PLUS Program

The PLUS Program provides comprehensive academic support services for college students with learning differences to foster the development of skills essential for success in college. A fee-for-service program, the PLUS Program offers five levels of services to meet each student’s unique learning needs.

SERVICES

Individualized support from Professional Learning Specialists:

• Strengths-based
• Academic monitoring
• Academic planning
• Academic support and strategies
• Course content tutoring using various learning styles
• Career planning/preparation
• Executive functioning
• Self-advocacy
• Transition support

Small Group Tutoring:

• Confidence building
• Speech/presentation practice
• Collaborative learning
• Social skills
• Social norms building

Structured Study:

• Writing support
• Accountability
• Body-double
• Review sessions
• Student success workshops

One-on-one support from peer mentors:

• Communication/social skills
• Independent living
• Campus Involvement

LEVEL OF SERVICES

Each student may select the level of service that best meets their unique learning needs. Each level of service has a specific fee which is added to the student’s Muskingum University bill and may be calculated into the student’s financial need.

Premier – comprehensive academic support – up to 5 hours per week -- $4,204 per semester

Select – less frequent academic support – up to 3 hours per week -- $2,500 per semester

Transitions – support for transition from high school to college OR college to career – up to 1.5 hours per week -- $1,400 per semester

Connections- communication and social skills to foster success- up to 3 hours per week -- $2,500 per semester

"Bundle" Select and Connections -- academic and communication skills support -- up to 6 hours per week -- $4,900 per semester

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SPECIALISTS

According to their selected level of service, each PLUS student meets regularly with assigned Professional Learning Specialists (Coordinators and/or Consultants) who support the student’s individual learning needs, monitor academic performance, and provide content tutoring using various learning modalities.

• Possess a Bachelor’s or Master's degree in education and academic related fields
• Are knowledgeable about learning differences and diagnosed disabilities
• Are skilled in the customization and application of learning strategies for students who learn differently 
• Are skilled in collaborating with faculty, academic advisors, and families on behalf of their assigned students

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

To support students’ learning of course content and academic progression in a degree plan, Learning Specialists are actively involved in the student's academic progress and individualize methods to meet each student’s learning needs.

• Individualize tutoring strategies using various learning styles
• Identify each student’s strengths to encourage an appropriate selection of courses
• Monitor academic progress throughout each semester

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING SKILLS

Executive functioning skills are the mental processes that enable students to successfully manage themselves and their resources to achieve a goal.

• Self-control – regulate emotions and control behavior during stressful situations
• Working memory – manage multiple and complex tasks
• Cognitive flexibility – adapt to new tasks quickly

Since executive functioning skills can be challenging for many students with learning differences, Learning Specialists work with each student to develop skills essential for success in college and life beyond college.

• Stress management
• Problem-solving
• Time management
• Organizational skills
• Planning for multiple or large tasks
• Memory strategies

TRANSITION SUPPORT

Students at all PLUS Program levels receive support during their transition from high school to college as well as college to career. Learning Specialists work with each student’s unique needs to promote student independence through the development of skills essential for success in college and a future career.

• Self-advocacy is understanding one's learning needs and communicating those needs to others.
• Self-determination is the setting of goals, making decisions, and taking action to reach the goals.

CAREER PLANNING AND PREPARATION

The PLUS Program is committed to helping students to develop the skills necessary to be successful in college as well as life beyond Muskingum University. To support students’ preparation for the job search process, the PLUS Program collaborates with Muskingum University's Impact Center to plan and host workshops related to resume writing, job/internship application, and interviewing skills. Many of these workshops are held to prepare students for opportunities such as the nationwide Workforce Recruitment Program (wrp.gov) process for paid internships and employment.