Virginia Wesleyan University will launch a new Center for Career Development and Neurodiversity this summer.

Supported by a $625,000 federal grant, the center will provide services for on-campus students with autism as they navigate a traditional college experience, as well as people with autism who use the university’s workforce development programs.

“We found two different populations here that have needs,” said Virginia Wesleyan President Scott Miller.

Wesleyan has always provided strong services to students on the autism spectrum and with disabilities through a number of partnerships, Miller said. During the pandemic, the school opened a number of non-credit courses up to the community to help with job placement and noticed there was a greater need.

“We also found through our workforce development classes that there were talented individuals who had stellar academic records who were challenged at getting jobs in the workplace  … because of a lot of the challenges that are associated with being on the spectrum or being autistic,” Miller said.

Universities, including Wesleyan, have disability services offices for students to seek accommodations on campus. 

In the case of Virginia Wesleyan, the staff leading that office have other responsibilities, Miller said. The new Center will have staff whose sole job is the work there and the federal grant money will support that staff.

David Black, Chancellor of Virginia Wesleyan’s Global Campus, helped write the grant application to fund the Center. 

He said for on-campus, traditional students, services will be highly individualized and based on what they need. Plans for students might be informal and focus on things the student can do or involve faculty giving extra time on assignments, for example.

Services won’t be limited to students with a formal autism diagnosis.

“Any student who asks for support from the center … we will of course try to help them,” Black said.

On the workforce development side, services will focus on strengthening non-technical skills needed in the job market.

“[It’s] designed to address the adult learner who may not have attended college … who may be talented enough to acquire a job, but have challenges associated with interviewing and presenting themselves properly,” Miller said.

The Center for Career Development and Neurodiversity will also manage dual enrollment and online learning programs.

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