2008 Woodie Awards
Department of Education gives BSU a $113,257 grant for programs
Money could extend mentorship program for disabled students
Jessica Kerman
When senior Stacye Cline transferred to Ball State University, she found the university's services for students with disabilities a breath of fresh air.
"I transferred here from a small liberal arts college where I was the only disabled student on campus," she said.
Making a transition to college from a life of assistance from friends and family can be difficult for a student with disabilities, Cline, who has cerebral palsy, said.
"Many disabled students are sheltered before coming here, so they may need more assistance, more outreach," she said.
To remedy transition difficulties for students, Ball State's Office of Disabled Student Development and its division of student affairs started a mentorship program in which first-year students are partnered with a faculty member who helps with problems and offers general guidance while the students get used to campus life. In its third year, the program has 40 faculty members participating, Larry Markle, director of Disabled Student Development, said.
While Cline has not participated in the program, she said she would have wanted something like that when she started school.
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Department of Education announced Ball State would receive a $113,257 grant in relation to programs through the Office of Disabled Student Development. Markle said he had not received official notification about what the grant was specifically for, but he said the grant proposal included extending the mentorship program and providing sensitivity training classes for faculty, as well as adding an outreach program for secondary schools.
According to a release from the Department of Education, $6.7 million in grants was awarded to 23 higher education organizations, most of which were universities.
The three-year grants assist initiatives for "technical assistance and professional development to faculty and administrators who teach and counsel students with disabilities," according to the release.
"I transferred here from a small liberal arts college where I was the only disabled student on campus," she said.
Making a transition to college from a life of assistance from friends and family can be difficult for a student with disabilities, Cline, who has cerebral palsy, said.
"Many disabled students are sheltered before coming here, so they may need more assistance, more outreach," she said.
To remedy transition difficulties for students, Ball State's Office of Disabled Student Development and its division of student affairs started a mentorship program in which first-year students are partnered with a faculty member who helps with problems and offers general guidance while the students get used to campus life. In its third year, the program has 40 faculty members participating, Larry Markle, director of Disabled Student Development, said.
While Cline has not participated in the program, she said she would have wanted something like that when she started school.
On Aug. 29, the U.S. Department of Education announced Ball State would receive a $113,257 grant in relation to programs through the Office of Disabled Student Development. Markle said he had not received official notification about what the grant was specifically for, but he said the grant proposal included extending the mentorship program and providing sensitivity training classes for faculty, as well as adding an outreach program for secondary schools.
According to a release from the Department of Education, $6.7 million in grants was awarded to 23 higher education organizations, most of which were universities.
The three-year grants assist initiatives for "technical assistance and professional development to faculty and administrators who teach and counsel students with disabilities," according to the release.
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