Will Gott, the newest Access ETSU student, was surprised with his admittance by ETSU President Brian Noland, faculty and Bucky during what Gott thought was a campus tour.
Gott and his family were greeted in Warf-Pickel Hall with cheers and flashing cameras the morning of April 21. Noland spoke with Gott before he signed his agreement to attend ETSU. Gott received a goody bag with ETSU merchandise and then serenaded the room with his favorite country music. On this special day, Bucky was Garrison Buchanan, who was the first student to be admitted to Access ETSU.
Gott is interested in studying social sciences and musical theater. He loves to sing and is excited to use the resources at ETSU. When asked about why he wanted to attend ETSU, Gott said, “Because I wanted to learn.”
There are currently two Access ETSU students at the university. This fall, 12 new students will join them. Surprise announcements like these will continue.
Access ETSU is a two-year program for students with intellectual disabilities that allows them to experience college with their same-age peers. Students participate in everything their peers do and are given peer mentors. Access ETSU prepares students for entering their career fields with academics centered around their interests, as well as off-campus internships.
“Here at Access ETSU, [we] presume competence,” said Dawn Rowe, interim chair of ETSU Educational Foundations and Special Education. “We feel that all students have the ability to succeed.”
Access ETSU is working to change the outcomes for students with intellectual abilities. They believe in these students’ potential and want the community to know post-secondary education is an option.
“That’s why we’re here,” said Noland. “That’s why the university exists. Despite all the things that can swirl around a university, when you take away the noise and look at the purpose, the purpose is what you saw today.”
Access ETSU works to uplift students to go beyond what has been expected of them. Recent data shows that students with intellectual disabilities who participate in higher education programs see better career outcomes compared to their peers who do not.
Access ETSU just received a $2.5 million Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help boost infrastructure and bring on more students. The program is currently commuter, but Access ETSU is hoping to bring these students on campus.
Students across disciplines are encouraged to apply to be peer mentors. For information about the application, visit www.etsu.edu/coe/access/.
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