The REAL Certificate FALL 2022 Application and Admissions Process

The REAL Certificate

FALL 2022

Application and Admissions Process

The Raising Expectations for Academic Learning or REAL Certificate offers students with intellectual

and/or developmental disabilities the opportunity to participate in a post-secondary academic-,

vocational- and social inclusion-focused program. Applicants will have received extensive special

education services in their secondary schools and are not able to access college by meeting typical

entrance criteria. The REAL certificate is a two year program that requires four (4) full semesters of

study. Students in the REAL Certificate audit traditional undergraduate courses and participate in

inclusive vocational and social experiences. Students have the option to live on campus or commute.

An individual plan for college participation is developed for each student. Students must follow the

University Code of Conduct and the REAL Certificate does not have the personnel to (1) supervise

students with difficult and challenging behaviors; (2) dispense medications or (3) provide personal

assistants.

The REAL Certificate is NOT an accredited college degree program and graduating students will

receive a certificate of completion.

The REAL Certificate is a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program approved by the U.S.

Department of Education. Eligible students are therefore able to apply for certain types of federal aid.

See the Student With Intellectual Disabilities eligibility section of the Federal Student Aid website

(studentaid.ed.gov) for further information. Consolidated or Person/Family Directed Supports (PFDS)

waiver and Office of Vocational Rehabilitation funding may be used to pay for the REAL Certificate

program.

Fall 2022 Applications must be postmarked by February 15, 2022.

If you need additional information or have questions about the application, please contact:

Jessica Mattis, REAL Certificate Director

[email protected]

REAL Certificate Eligibility Criteria:

Upon application, it is expected that students will demonstrate the following minimal

requirements:

• Be between the ages of 18-26 at the start of the program.

• Provide documentation of intellectual and/ or developmental disability.

• Demonstrate active participation throughout the application/interview process.

• Express desire and motivation to complete a postsecondary education program.

• Have proof of eligibility for IDEA while in school (i.e., the student had an IEP).

• Demonstrate ability to communicate with staff, faculty, and mentors.

• Have the ability to function independently for a sustained period of time (i.e., able to sit

through 90 minute courses and function independently for 1 hour blocks of time

(including navigating campus independently).

• Have sufficient emotional and independent stability to participate in all aspects of the

REAL Certificate program and campus environment.

• Be able to handle and adapt to change; not overly stressed when schedules or people

change.

• Express desire to be part of the workforce

• Be able to provide transportation to and from campus

• Have proof of health insurance (Medicaid, Medicare, private).

• Be able to follow the University Code of Conduct and to behave respectfully towards

others

Due to space limitations, not all applicants who complete the application and meet the

criteria for admission will be accepted in the REAL Certificate.

Application Process

Important Dates

February 15, 2022- Completed Applications Submitted

February/March 2022- Student/Family/ Supports Interview

March 31, 2022- Student notified of application status

May/June- Students and family participate in Person-Centered Planning meeting

August 25, 2022- Fall Orientation begins

Application Process

To apply for the Fall semester, complete and submit the application, supporting documents,

and teacher reference form. After submitting the required application packet, students may be

invited to participate in an interview. Following the interviews, the application screening

committee will review all of the applications and select students for admission. The decision to

offer or deny admission to the program will be made by the admissions committee in their best

judgment and in the best interest of the applicant.

Please do not call about the status of your application, as we will not be able to provide this

information for you over the phone. You will receive an email notifying you of the status of

your application. Since a limited number of applicants will be admitted each year, interested

candidates are welcome to re-apply the following year.

Application Packet

Part 1: Application

Part 2: Supporting

Documents

Part 3: Teacher

Reference Form

-Contact Information

-Program Information

-Detailed Personal Information

-Mailing Address

-Demographics

-Family

-Education Details

-Extracurricular Activities

-Short Answer Questions

-High School Transcript

-Most recent IEP

-Educational evaluation

conducted within the past 3

years, such as.

● School re-evaluation

● Woodcock Johnson

● PIAT

● KTEA

-Use the REAL Certificate

Reference form to ask

for a recommendation

from one of your

teachers (Printable

PDF or online form

available)

Fall 2022 REAL Certificate Application

Contact Information

First Name: ____________________________ Middle Name: ____________________________

Last Name: ____________________________ Email Address: ___________________________

Home Phone Number: ___________________ Mobile Phone Number: _____________________

Preferred Phone- please select: Home Mobile

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Program Information

The REAL Certificate is a program for students with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental

disabilities who are motivated to complete a post-secondary education program and join the workforce

after graduation.

Please write your name and initial here to confirm that you meet the program entrance

requirements listed on page 2 _____________________________________________________

Students in the REAL Certificate are required to take Basic College Writing and a First Year Seminar

Course. After the first semester, students enroll in any 100 and 200 level courses across the university.

Some students in the program choose to focus on one area of study while others explore courses in a

number of different departments. Some examples of the types of classes students have taken include

Criminal Justice, Art, Education, Psychology, etc.

Please list three areas you are interested in studying:

1. ____________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________________

Students in the REAL Certificate have the option to reside in on-campus housing or to commute to

campus daily:

Please select if you plan to be a residential or commuter student.

Residential Commuter

Transportation services are NOT provided by the university. If you plan to commute, what is

your transportation plan?

________________________________________________________________________________

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Detailed Personal Information

Other/Former First Name: ___________________________________________________________

Other/Former Last Name (e.g. Maiden name): ___________________________________________

Date of Birth: _____________________________ Sex assigned at birth: Female Male

If you wish, we invite you to share more about your gender identity below:

________________________________________________________________________________

Are you the first member of your family to attend college? Please select... Yes No

Which disabilities do you have? Circle all that apply.

Intellectual disability

Speech or language impairment

Autism

Developmental disability

Orthopedic impairment

Emotional disturbance

Deaf-blindness

Traumatic Brain Injury

Other health impairment

Hearing Impairment

Deafness

Visual Impairment, including blindness

Specific learning disability

Other; please specify:______________________

Which types of benefits do you receive? Select all that apply.

None

Consolidated or Person/Family Directed Supports (PFDS) Waiver

SSI (Supplemental Security Income)

SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance)

Unemployment Insurance

TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families)

OVR

Which of the following best describes the curriculum and educational setting you experienced

in high school? Select one.

Fully included in general education curriculum in general education classes

Partially included in general education curriculum with the majority of classes in general

education.

Student spent half of their time in general education and half of their time in special

education.

Partially included in general education curriculum with the majority of classes in special

education.

Not included in general education curriculum or classes/ only in special education classes

(e.g. life skills).

Other; please specify:

What, if any, type of statewide assessment did you take while in high school? Choose one.

Regular with or without accommodations

Alternate

Waived

None

Other; please specify:

Do you have a legal conservator or guardian? Yes No

If yes, please indicate who:_____________________________________________________

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Mailing Address

Street: ____________________________________________________________________________

City: ___________________________________ State: ______________ Zip: ______________

Country: ___________________________________________________________________________

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Demographics

Are you Hispanic/Latino? Yes No

Regardless of your answer to the prior question, please indicate how you identify yourself. (You

may select one or more or none)

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic of any race

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

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Family

Parent/Family member/Guardian:

First Name: _____________________________ Last Name: _______________________________

Email Address: __________________________ Phone Number:____________________________

Relationship- Please circle. Parent Family Member Legal Guardian

Parent/Family member/Guardian:

First Name: _____________________________ Last Name: _______________________________

Email Address: __________________________ Phone Number:____________________________

Relationship- Please circle. Parent Family Member Legal Guardian

Do you have a sibling, parent, grandparent, great grandparent that is attending or has graduated from

Arcadia? Yes No

Are you related to a University employee? Yes No

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Education Details

High School Name: ________________________________________________________________

School Address: __________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________ State: ____________ Zip: __________________

Did you graduate high school more than 5 years ago? Yes No

Did you, or will you, graduate from this school? Yes No

Attended Start Date: ____________________ Attended End Date: _______________________

Have you attended a college or university? Yes No

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Extracurricular Activities

Please share some activities that you participated in at your school or in your community. Activities can

involve clubs, sport teams, volunteer events and paid employment.

Activity 1: ________________________________________________________________________

Describe the activity and your involvement:

__________________________________________________________________________________

I intend to participate in a similar activity in College Yes No

Activity 2: ________________________________________________________________________

Describe the activity and your involvement:

__________________________________________________________________________________

I intend to participate in a similar activity in College Yes No

Activity 3: ________________________________________________________________________

Describe the activity and your involvement:

__________________________________________________________________________________

I intend to participate in a similar activity in College Yes No

If you would like to include additional activities, please submit the information on another sheet

or paper or include your resume.

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Short Answer Questions

Please answer ALL of the following questions so that we can learn more about you and why you would

like to be part of the REAL Certificate. Each answer must be 250 words or less.

1. Why are you interested in attending Arcadia University?

2. Describe your academic strengths and challenges and how you learn best.

3. Describe your work/volunteer experiences and your long-term career goals.

4. Please share any additional medical, psychiatric, behavior, and/or physical conditions that

may affect your participation in the classroom, social or vocational activities on campus.

Describe accommodations or supports that have been helpful in educational and/or work

settings.

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Disclosures

Statement of Civility

The diversity of the University community adds to the richness of campus life, and Arcadia University

expects all members of the community to respect both differences and commonalities. The University

acknowledges every individual's constitutional right to freedom of speech and freedom of inquiry.

Arcadia University also affirms every individual's right to an environment that is free from harassment of

any kind. The University will not tolerate the subjection of another person, group or class of persons to

inappropriate, abusive, threatening or demeaning actions at any time.

Non-Discrimination Statement

Arcadia University is committed to ensuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate

on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, race, color, religion, creed, sex/gender, marital status,

affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity, military and military veteran status, age, or disability in

its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment practices as required by Title IX of the

Educational Amendment of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with

Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable statutes. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, including

sexual harassment, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s

educational mission, and will not be tolerated.

Inquiries concerning Title IX, Section 504 and ADA compliance and information regarding accessibility

should be directed to the Affirmative Action Officer, Arcadia University, 450 S. Easton Road, Glenside,

PA 19038-3295; phone: 215-572-2947 and/or the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Arcadia University,

450 S. Easton Road, Thomas Hall, Room 002, Glenside, PA 19038-3295; phone: 215-517-2659.

Fingerprinting and Background Check

Prospective students are advised that some internship placement sites require students to submit to

fingerprinting and criminal background checks and receive appropriate clearances before they will be

permitted to participate in internship programs at those institutions. Students who do not submit to

fingerprinting and/or do not receive appropriate clearance may be unable to fulfill their academic

requirements at Arcadia University, and therefore may not be able to complete their educational

program. Unless otherwise paid for by the internship site, students will be required to bear the expense

of such screening. Arcadia University does not pay for or reimburse for the expenses related to

background checking or fingerprint clearance.

Criminal Convictions

A disciplinary matter or criminal conviction, occurring prior to the time of application (whether or not

disclosed on the application), while the application is under review, or after the admission decision has

been made, may affect decisions regarding admission and Arcadia University reserves the right to

revoke admission in such circumstances. Also, because offers of admission and enrollment are based

upon a record of academic achievement, Arcadia reserves the right to revoke admission upon receipt of

a final high school transcript (or most recent college transcript) reflecting a significant decline in

academic performance. Additionally, if an application misrepresents any information, for any reason,

admission or enrollment may be revoked at the University's discretion. Finally, admission to the

University does not guarantee placement in campus housing or participation in student teaching

placements, internships, or clinical rotations, which may be subject to additional policies or practices.

Questions

Questions regarding fingerprinting, background checking, and criminal convictions may be referred to

the Office of the General Counsel at Arcadia University.

Harassment

Arcadia University also affirms every individual’s right to an environment that is free from harassment of

any kind. The University will not tolerate the subjection of another person, group or class of persons to

inappropriate, abusive, threatening or demeaning actions at any time.

Mandatory Reporting

Under the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (23 Pa.C.S.6301 et seq)., Enrollment

Management staff, as school employees, are mandated reporters. As such, staff are required to make a

report of suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child

abuse.

Letter of Recommendation

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, you have the right to review letters of

recommendation after you enroll in the university, unless you waive your right to access them. Waiving

your right lets recommenders know you will never see the recommendation and may lead to a more

candid and truthful recommendation. If you choose not to waive your right, some recommenders may

decline your request.

Please select if you waiver your rights to review the letter of recommendation. A yes response

means you waive your rights. A no response means you do not waive your rights.

Yes No

Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution

you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related

to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action?

Yes No

Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony?

Yes No

I understand that withholding information requested in this application or giving false

information will make me ineligible for admission to, or continuation in, the REAL Certificate of

Arcadia University. I furthermore pledge to submit any future changes, including those related

to grades or discipline issues, to the REAL Certificate office and understand that an offer of

admission may be rescinded based upon updated information. I certify that the information

given is correct and complete.

I have read, I understand, and I agree to the above statement.

Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: __________________

You have now finished Step 1 of the application process. Please remember that in order for your

application to be complete, all required supporting documents and the Teacher Reference Form

must also be submitted.

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