Admissions / Admissions Criteria

Shepherds College serves individuals with intellectual disabilities, such as significant learning, cognitive, and developmental conditions, whose disability impacts their ability to access course content without a system of educational support and services.

Occupational Program Admissions Criteria

Candidates for admission will need to meet the following qualifications.

General:

• Have a diagnosed intellectual/developmental disability or significant learning challenges
• Be motivated and have an eagerness to learn
• Have the ability to receive information and instruction from staff and provide responses and feedback when necessary
• Have the ability to make the commitment required of an educational/transitional program
• Have completed four years of high school education, preferably culminating with a high school diploma or certificate of completion
• Be at least 18 years of age by August 31 of the year the student starts Shepherds College. (Note: Students not 18 at the start of the school year will need housing adjustments at the start of the school year.)
• Satisfy all requirements of the Shepherds College Admissions process as outlined on the Shepherds College application for enrollment
• Submit all required materials
• Application/Application Essay
• IEP (most recent)
• Psych Evaluation (preferably from the last three years)
• Three references
• Transcript
• Complete either virtual or on-campus visit
• The Application Review Team reserves the right to require additional visits for further evaluation

Academic

• Demonstrate academic skills suitable for Shepherds College as determined by Admissions assessments
• Have the ability to maintain appropriate professional behavior and perform with minimal supervision at an internship in a competitive business setting
• Participate in classroom lessons with accommodation and support within a 7:1 staff-to-student ratio

Student Life

• Perform daily hygiene routines independently, relying on, at most, verbal prompts or reminders from staff
• Have a desire to live independently and have a family that supports that goal
• Possess the ability to function without direct supervision in the residential setting safely
• Demonstrate a history of good citizenship and the ability to follow rules

Nursing

• Have minimal medical needs - require no more than three hours per week of nursing care
• Be free from communicable diseases

Behavioral

• Agree to abide by the Community Covenant established by Shepherds College
• Have acceptable social behavior verified by school, family, or another source
• Have no current or recent thoughts and/or record of harming self or others
• Have not had any acts of physical aggression in the last two years
• Have not had a history of sexual aggression or predatory behavior towards others
• Must notify Shepherds College of any and all incidents involving physical aggression, self-harm, non-consensual sexual engagement, and any arrests and/or convictions

Admissions by Exception to the Criteria

Students failing to meet one or more of the criteria should reach out to an Admissions Representative to address concerns related to eligibility. Students who fail to meet one or more of the criteria as approved and determined by the Application Review Team can be admitted by exception. Students who are admitted by exception will be placed on a student success plan. The advising department will develop and implement the student success plan with input from relevant departments. Students admitted by exception will be informed of the exception prior to enrollment. During orientation, the student will meet with his/her advisor to go over the student success plan. The student success plan will be evaluated by the advisor in accordance with the timeframe stipulated in the student success plan to determine if the student needs to remain on the plan, be removed from the plan, or have the plan modified.

Non-Discriminatory Policy

Shepherds College admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.