Supports
Mentors
Mentors are the first and most intensive level of support for Aggies Elevated students. Mentors are typically upper-division or graduate students from a variety of disciplines who share a common passion for working with people with disabilities (but we've had awesome freshman mentors, too). Each mentor works with one or two Aggies Elevated students, offering up to 10 hours of support per student each week. Mentors help the students learn to navigate the complexity of campus life, from time management to learning to live with roommates to discovering the best burger place in Logan.
Tutors and Study Sessions
Volunteer tutors, individual tutoring sessions, and structured study sessions are an integral part of the academic support we provide for our students. Study sessions are required for the first two weeks of each semester, then become optional (but highly recommended), allowing students to take ownership of their learning experiences.
Summer Prep Course
The 8-week-long Summer Prep course is required for first-year Aggies Elevated students. With a combination of weekly synchronous Zoom meetings and asynchronous assignments, Summer Prep guides students though the reading for USU 1010 Connections and completing the writing assignment that is due on the first day of class. Students become proficient in Zoom and Canvas, and are introduced to higher education concepts including "learning how to learn." We also build in some optional online social activities for fun!
Base Camp
Base Camp is an intensive orientation to college that takes place on campus the week before classes begin. Base Camp kicks off with a Sunday evening social event where students meet their mentors, gather contact information, and coordinate schedules before one last hug with parents. Sessions on Monday and Tuesday cover college behavior expectations, an orientation to the AE program, and an introduction to MyCLIMB, the AE person-centered planning process. (There's a little bit of fun, too!). Wednesday through Friday, first-year students attend their Connections class, while second-year students meet with their internship sites and complete some independent projects. There are always University-sponsored evening events, as well.