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Kimberly Burnett
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Salem State University has been awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI), sponsored by the Department of Education.
The grant, which totals $85,000, will support the continuation of the Salem State MAICEI program, Community of Inclusive Scholars (CIS) which provides academic, social, and career development opportunities for high school students 18-22 with intellectual disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorders. The program has been at Salem State since 2017, with Christine Lenahan and Erin Kourafas serving as project coordinator and educational coordinator, respectively
“We are pleased that the legislature has again funded the MAICEI programs and in particular thank State Senator Lovely and State Representative Paul Tucker for their support. This will be our third year of the CIS program here at Salem State and appreciate the support of faculty and departments across campus as we provide a college experience for these young men and women,” said Lenahan.
“The faculty has truly been very supportive of CIS students enrolling in their courses. Students have enrolled in courses such as criminal justice, theatre arts, education, technology, philosophy, history, sports & movement science, business, music, and nursing. The outreach of various departments that have offered support to our students as well as internships has been terrific. It has truly been a positive experience,” Kourafas added.
This year, 11 students will participate in the program, coming from Swampscott, Lynnfield, Lynn/KIPP, Danvers, Peabody, and Dracut/SEEM Collaborative.
“This program is a showcase of the excellent work we do here at Salem State. At our university, we strive to give every student the opportunity to have an impactful college experience and this program is ensuring that this group of young adults has that same opportunity,” said Salem State University President John Keenan.
According to the Department of Higher Education website, “Community of Inclusive Scholar students participate in two college courses, in both the Fall and Spring semester. In addition, Inclusive Scholars students will also participate in at least one identified activity or club, internship opportunities either on campus or through their school district, participate in the Gassett Fitness Center, peer tutoring, and the writing center. The ultimate goal of the Community of Inclusive Scholars Program is to prepare students for paid employment through promotion of self-determination, self-advocacy, increased independence, and improvement of social skills.”