FAQ
CLE is the most intensive and extensive learning assistance program available.
Is CLE a college?
No. The College Living Experience is a post-secondary support service program. We are a residential program that helps students attending one of several colleges or universities, often located right across the street from our tutorial facility. We offer intensive academic, independent living skills, and social skills support so that students can study and live in a normal college environment.
Are there dorms?
No. Dorm life can prove to be very difficult for our student population. Organizational, study skills, and social skills issues can all get in the way of a student’s success while living in a dorm. Students at the College Living Experience live in one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartments adjacent to the colleges and our facility. This enables faculty to ensure that students are learning and practicing the skills that are necessary to live independently. It also ensures that our students each have their own bedroom and bathroom. A place to call their own and that offers the necessary down time to recharge and be prepared to face each day’s challenges.
What happens in the summer?
The College Living Experience is a year-round program. Classes typically run on a semester basis with two six-week sessions during the summer. Students can choose from many summer options, including: college, study abroad, internships, work experience, vacation, visiting home or a combination of the above. Whatever a student decides, CLE also operates during the summer, providing all the same academic, independent living skill, and social skills support that it does throughout the academic year. With fewer classes, the summer months usually bring even more new and interesting social programming.
What kinds of students do you have?
The students at the College Living Experience vary greatly in their strengths, backgrounds, and reasons for attending CLE. Typically, our students range from low/average to highly gifted IQ, with a primary diagnosis of LD, ADD/ADHD, students with Psychosocial-Maturational issues or PDD (high-functioning Autism, Asperger’s, NVLD). It is our goal to integrate students with differing diagnoses to create an environment that most closely resembles the real world, where each of us has unique strengths and gifts. We create our own “mini” campus where we can all learn from each other.
How long do students stay with CLE?
It depends on the student. The College Living Experience is an academic-model program, where 100 percent of our students are in an academic program leading to a certificate, associates, or bachelors degree. Most students stay from one to four years to complete their program, there is no expectation that a student must finish their academic career with CLE. Many students attend for one or two years and transfer to a university elsewhere to complete their degrees. Others complete a two-year degree or technical certificate and are ready to move into the world on their own. Each year families are given the ability to make the decision as to what is best for their student for the coming year.
What are you looking for in a student?
The College Living Experience is looking for students who are ready to face the challenges of college and the real world, secure in the knowledge that they will be given all of the support that they need to be successful. CLE is not the appropriate environment for students with serious conduct disorders, psychiatric disorders or addiction issues.
How much supervision is there?
The College Living Experience is not a 24/7-model program. There are no bed checks and no curfews. Students are expected to attend all of their scheduled tutorial, independent living skills, and social skills appointments throughout the week. When not scheduled for an appointment, students are on their own to enjoy college life. CLE offers a variety of supervised social activities daily and although all students are encouraged to attend them, those who are confident in making and carrying out their own social plans are free to do so. Students who tend to isolate, on the other hand, will be strongly encouraged to attend CLE events. CLE staff is always on call for emergencies and an adult resident advisor, who is a full-time employee of CLE, resides in the apartment complex with the students. All students are given the RA’s cell phone number and a strong staff presence is felt throughout the community.
How do the CLE sites differ?
Although each site exudes its own personality and cultural flare, the programs do not differ. The philosophy, programming, executive staff, oversight, and offerings are the same at all sites. Students admitted to the College Living Experience are admitted to any location, depending upon availability. Students are also free to transfer sites or just spend a year visiting and studying at a different CLE location.
