Mercyhurst College

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadline: March 1, 2012

1. What is a typical day like for participants in the Foundations Program?

It is our goal that our Foundation students will acquire skills that will assist with the transition from high school to college. They will learn and experience the differences that exist between living at home and living in a residence hall. They will adapt to noises in the residence halls and learn how to co-exist with a roommate. They will wake up independently, attend class on time, regulate their sleep schedules, do laundry, attend to personal hygiene and grooming, manage money and negotiate problems with other students and/or staff. They will learn appropriate study skills needed for college level work and develop time management skills.

Students are scheduled to take a core academic class. For 2012, we will offer Human Growth and Development, a behavioral/social science course which are requirements at our college and transferrable to most other colleges. This class will meet from 8:30 A.M. to 11:45 A.M. each day. In addition to the 3-credit course, there will be seminars scheduled which will introduce the students to support services on campus including the following offices: Learning Differences, Campus Ministry, Counseling Center, Student Government, and the Registrar’s.

Students will be exposed to College Life Skills Tutorials facilitated by a licensed psychologist. Program participants will be paired with peer mentors who will help to reinforce and extend our social skills curriculum. These students are candidates for an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a concentration in Applied Behavioral Analysis. To learn more about Mercyhurst's innovative ABA program, Click Here.

Study Skills Seminars will be taught by the Foundations Program staff. In the evenings, students will participate in mandatory study sessions which will be monitored by our staff and peer mentors. Students' course work for the classes will include course readings, studying for tests, preparing projects/ homework, etc. Students will have access to a tutor for academic support, if needed. Because of the structure of the program, the academic rigor of the college course, and because program participants will be under the age of 18, there will be an evening curfew enforced.

2. Who are the staff for the Foundations Program?

The Foundations Program is co-directed by Dianne D. Rogers, Director the Foundations Program and Janet Pawlowski, Licensed Psychologist. Dianne Rogers has served as Director of the Learning Differences Program at Mercyhurst University since 1998 and earned a B.S. in Special Education and Rehabilitation from Syracuse University. She has earned two Master’s Degrees, one from University of Wisconsin in Special Education and the other from Edinboro University (PA) in School Administration and Supervision. Rogers has worked in both public and private schools with populations of individuals with special needs, including students with sensory disabilities, physical disabilities, social and emotional disturbances, and learning disabilities prior to her involvement with the Autism Spectrum population. With the introduction of the Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM), Rogers has become a requested consultant to parents, autism groups and area colleges on higher education’s responsibility for providing social and academic support to individuals with Asperger Syndrome and high functional individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Most recently, in addition to obtaining a Congressionally-directed grant for Mercyhurst’s AIM program, Rogers has presented at numerous conferences on the Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst including the Governors’ Conference on Higher Education, the Community of Practice on Transition Conference, sponsored by the PA Department of Labor and Industry, and the NASPA (National Association of Student Affairs Mental Health Conference.

Janet Pawlowski is a licensed psychologist and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Additionally, she obtained her B.S.N. from Villa Maria College/Gannon University, a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Edinboro University (PA), and Post-Master’s Certification in Marriage and Family Therapy form Gannon University. Pawlowski is also founder and Clinical Director of KaleidAScope, Inc., a nonprofit agency providing specialized services to individuals, 15-years old through life, with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Janet specializes in evaluation and treatment of individuals of all ages with ASD profiles, particularly Asperger’s Syndrome, and provides a wide variety of social, emotional and behavioral services for children.

3. What is the admission process for the Foundations Program?

Admission packets will be available on our website from December 1 - March 1, 2012. All completed applications must be returned to Mercyhurst University no later than March 1, 2012, for priority consideration. In order to be considered for the Foundations Program, the student must have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ADS) and meet the academic standards required for admission to Mercyhurst University. An appropriate referral to the Foundations Program would be a student who has the academic abilities necessary for success in college, but requires growth in social and organizational skills. Our program gives qualified students an opportunity to get a preview of college prior to enrollment.

Successful participants in previous years earned a minimum of 1000 on the SAT combined Verbal and Mathematics scores and/or ACT Composite score of 23, or a score of 100 on the PSAT. The minimal high school GPA was 3.0, and based upon a rigorous college preparatory curriculum.

Foundations Program applicants will meet with the Foundations staff for an interview and additionally, will supply letters of recommendations indicating readiness for this experience. These interviews will be scheduled prior to April 1, 2012.

4. When does the Foundations Program start?

Check-in for the Program begins on Friday, July 6, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in the Learning Differences Office, 314 Old Main. The students and families are then invited to lunch in the Laker Inn. Families may continue moving into student housing during the afternoon and at 4:00 P.M. the students and staff will go the Presque Isle State park for a picnic. Classes begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 9th, and conclude during the afternoon of Friday, July 27, 2012. A full schedule will be in included your Move-In packet.

5. What will my room assignment be during the Foundations Program?

We anticipate that all students will reside in Warde Hall, our newest residence hall on campus. Students will have a roommate from the Program. All rooms are double occupancy with private bathrooms. Click Here to take our campus tour to preview Warde Hall and view the amenities of this beautiful new residence hall.

6. What will be my meal plan during the Foundations Program?

Three meals a day will be served in Mercyhurst Egan Cafeteria. Typically, breakfast is served from 7:15 A.M. — 8:15 A.M; lunch from 11:30 A.M. — 1:00 P.M. and dinner from 4:30 P.M. — 6:00 P.M. This schedule is subject to change. We make every effort to accommodate dietary needs of our Program students. Gluten free products are available upon request.

7. What are the fees for the Foundations Program and what do the fees include?

The cost of the 24-day Foundations Program will be $3500.00, and will include costs for tuition, room and board and activity fees, including the $200.00 application fee. The non-refundable application deposit will need to be included with the student’s application and is required to confirm placement in the program, an interview and campus tour. When the student is accepted into the Foundations Program, this $200 fee will be applied to tuition. Remaining Fee schedule as follows:

  • April 1, 2012 $1500
  • May 1, 2012 $1000
  • June 1, 2012 $ 800 or balance of fees Total cost $3500

There will be no refunds after July 5, 2012, for fees paid to the college.

A Letter of Understanding has been articulated between the Foundations Program and Pennsylvania's Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). PA residents are encoursged to contact their local OVR to determine their eligibility for funding for this program. Please check into your local Autism organizations for other funding sources that may be willing to help sponsor student participation in the Foundations Program.

8. Once the Program begins, must I remain on campus during the weekends?

We strongly recommend that students remain on campus for the weekday and weekend activities that have been planned by the Resident Life staff. Certain College Life Skills Tutorials will be taught on the weekends. In the past our students have become a support group for each other because of the time they have spent getting to know each other, especially during the more informal weekend program. If however, a student must leave campus, parental notification must be submitted in advance.

9. Do I get grades during the Foundations Program?

Yes, this class is a core class taught by an experienced faculty member of the University. A copy of the student’s final grade will be sent to the family at the completion of the course. PA residents are encouraged to contact representatives from their local school districts to determine if a local school district will accept Foundations Program credits for purposes of Dual Enrollment. A link to Pennsylvania Department of Education website that discusses this program can be found here. Should you choose to transfer this credit to another college, we will provide you with the information you need to request an official transcript.

10. Will there be Therapeutic Staff Support (TSS) for behavioral, social, or mental health issues during the Foundations Program?

The Foundations Program is geared toward preparing college-bound young adults to be successful and independent, and to be able to advocate for themselves in the “real world,” which is reflected in all aspects of college life. With this in mind, it is our belief that the level of service provided by TSS or similar 1:1 supports should have already been faded out, and the skills transferred to the student or others by this time. Individuals who still require this level of service are not appropriate candidates for the Foundations Program.

11. Does your staff administer and monitor medication?

The Foundations Program is designed to prepare the student for college. Medication management for some of our students is one of the most significant life lessons that must be learned. One of our first modules will deal with managing medication. We recommend that you have your pharmacist place the medication be in dated blister pack form to assist students in learning to manage medication. While we wish to know the dosage and types of medications the student is prescribed, it will be the student’s responsibility to self-administer medications. All medication must be stored in a locked container. Mercyhurst University or the Foundations Program is not responsible for misplaced medication and parents will need to replace such items at their own expense. Parents are responsible for any prescriptions charged and filled by local pharmacies. There is a CVS pharmacy within walking distance of the college. A medical insurance card must be sent with your completed medical forms.

12. What forms are required for Admission to the Foundations Program?

 Application for the Foundations Program
 Foundations Recommendation Form
 KaleidAScope Assessment Survey
 Mercyhurst Student Health Record
 Summer Course Registration Form
 504 Plan and/or Individual Educational Plan (IEP)
 High School Transcript

Refer to APPLICATION PACKET tab on this page for a more detailed description.

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