North Carolina State University is accepting applications for their inclusive postsecondary education program, Elevate, until the beginning of October.

Elevate is a new university-wide initiative that is designed to award non-degree credentials to students with intellectual or developmental disabilities. It is housed in N.C. State’s College of Education. At the end of the four-year program, the university hopes that students will have gained more academic, personal, and social skills.

Tamira White, Elevate program director, said students will have the opportunity to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. She said they will also have access to many resources on their campus and its surrounding communities.

“We will use cutting-edge technology to provide each Elevate student an opportunity to grow academically and socially, and prepare them to launch their successful careers,” White said.

According to White, the General Assembly allocated funds to create an educational opportunities program, which became the Elevate program.

To be eligible for Elevate, applicants must be at least 18 years of age and reside in the state of North Carolina. Applicants must be identified with an intellectual disability and must show proof of eligibility for special education services and an Individual Education Program.

Elevate’s application process has four steps. After completing the university’s online form, applicants must also submit the following supplementary documents:

• Proof of an intellectual disability
• High school transcript(s)
• Two recommendations
• Parent/guardian questionnaire
• Student questionnaire

The application is due Oct. 1, and the supporting documents are due no later than Oct. 15.

Once their information is reviewed, a select number of applicants will be invited for an on-campus interview between late October and early November. An admissions committee will then select six students to be admitted into the program. The committee will consist of members of the Elevate team, representatives from N.C. State’s College of Education, and representatives from N.C. State’s Division of Academic and Student Affairs. All members of the committee have experience and training related to individuals with disabilities, the university said.

Students will be notified of their application status on a rolling basis starting Nov. 15. The program begins in the spring 2025 semester.

Each student that is admitted the spring 2025 cohort will receive a scholarship to cover tuition and fees for the first year, the university said in an email.

Since the students admitted during this cycle will be the first class of Elevate, they will have to commute for the upcoming spring semester. Housing will be available during the fall 2025 semester.

One of the assistant teaching professors for the program, Beth Feur, has experience with researching self-determination outcomes for diverse learners. She said that her philosophy is to create a classroom where diverse learners feel safe to express themselves and have a sense of agency.

“Ultimately, I aim to create a learning environment that is deeply rooted in community, whereby students utilize and apply their funds of knowledge and personal experiences, and we work together to co-construct knowledge and develop new understandings from one another,” Feur said.

According to a press release, the university said the program’s pillars of success are academics, employment, personal development, independent living, and social engagement. 

White said that people should choose Elevate for the opportunity to get “top tier” educational and vocational training. She said the program has been a dream for her for almost 10 years.

“I am from Durham and am excited for new opportunities to improve adulthood for North Carolina students in the Triangle and surrounding communities,” White said.