University of Wisconsin - Extension

Sarah Babe, 18, of Burlington, has dreams of becoming a broadcast announcer. Bennett Rock, 18, of Madison, wants to work in a business-related field. They both plan to attend UW-Whitewater this fall, and both believe that a little extra hard work over the summer will help them reach their goals.

Babe and Rock are two of the 44 students who attended a four-week summer transition program offered through Project ASSIST (Adult Services Supporting Instructional Survival Tactics) at UW-Whitewater, July 10-Aug.3.

Project ASSIST is UW-Whitewater's support program for students with learning disabilities. It was first started on a small scale by the Special Education Department in 1977. According to Project ASSIST Director Nancy Amacher, a federal grant in 1985 helped the program grow. In July 1999, program administration was moved to the Office of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education.

"The program is based on the idea that students with learning disabilities can learn specific strategies that will enable them to succeed in college," Amacher said. "We provide one-on-one tutoring, workshops, and study groups for students throughout the school year. And during the summer, we offer a study skills course designed to provide students with the skills they will need to make the transition to university life."

Amacher said studies show that students with learning disabilities who participate in programs like Project ASSIST are significantly more successful in college and more likely to graduate than those who don't.

"Project ASSIST operates under the philosophy that we need to invest in every student's future, to find ways to make all students successful, productive members of society," she said.

Although there's a dearth of specific data that tracks the success and retention of students with disabilities, Amacher firmly believes Project ASSIST and programs like it help students with special needs keep up with their peers.

According to Amacher, of the 32 students enrolled in the 1999 summer transition program, 23 students, or 72 percent, are still enrolled at UW-Whitewater for this fall. The most recent data available at the UW-System Office of Policy Analysis and Research show that the overall freshman retention rate at UW-Whitewater is 83.1 percent.

Babe, Rock, and the other students in the summer transition program spent seven hours a day in the classroom. The three-credit study skills course focused on note-taking skills, test-taking strategies, study habits, and time management. Of course, there were also weekly quizzes and homework assignments, a term paper, and midterm and final exams.

While the summer transition program is optional, students admitted to the university on their own are encouraged to take it. Students who received a special admission must earn an A or B in the course to continue at the university for the fall semester.

"I'm in this class because I want to adjust to college life and to learn a lot of the study skills that I never picked up in high school," Babe said. "Besides, I think this will give me a leg up on the other incoming freshmen."

The students also spent two hours a day learning about the campus, the surrounding community, and getting to know the other students. For Rock, these are the biggest benefits.

"I came here this summer to get an understanding of what support services UW-Whitewater has for me, and how I can get that help," he said. "I also wanted to be able to get used to the campus. It's been really easy. Everybody's been really helpful."

What the Project ASSIST summer transition program also offers students like Babe and Rock is an opportunity to develop confidence and a sense of independence. Those feelings make the hard work well worth it.

"I feel more comfortable about being here, on the UW-Whitewater campus," Babe said. "I wasn't sure at first, but now I can say, 'yeah, I can handle this.'"