Application | InclusiveU

You’re In!

InclusiveU student megan poses with peer mentor tori at a syracuse basketball game

Applications for Fall 2024 are now open!

Deadline: January 15, 2024

Apply to InclusiveU

Application Tips

In your application we will ask you to:

Talk about why you want to be a student.
Find two people to write letters of recommendations for you.
Understand your options about paying for InclusiveU.
Have some idea of what you want to study or learn. Some people are very specific, and they want to study one thing. Other people just want to have the experience of going to college. Be honest – we appreciate honesty and it will help us figure out the right options with you.
Think about your disability and personality. What will you need during college to have a good experience?

If you are from out of state you will have other things to think about, including:

where you will live,
how you will get home during holiday breaks,
if you need a job (and whether you have any limit on your earnings),
who will be your supports while you are in Syracuse (we recommend setting up a Circle of Support or other formal supports in addition to the friends you will make).

This may require extra time and planning, so don’t be disappointed if the process takes a while!

For the InclusiveU Transition Program, you will not need a high school transcript or a recommendation from a high school teacher, although you are welcome to share these if you think it’s important. These don’t always do a good job of showing what students have done or what they could do at Syracuse. We also would rather depend on your personal description of your disability instead of any disability documentation from doctors or schools. The Center for Disability Resources may ask you for disability documentation if they have a question about how to best accommodate you, but that is rare.

Dates and Deadlines

These dates are deadlines are for students who want to start InclusiveU in Fall 2024.

Fall 2023: Interested students should start working on how you will pay for your courses at SU, figuring out the best way to come to SU, and deciding whether you’d like to just take courses through University College or participate in the InclusiveU program.
September 2023: Application opens.
October 5, 2023: InclusiveU Information session.
January 15, 2024: Application Deadline for Fall 2024.
Beginning in March 2024: Acceptance letters sent.
Spring 2024: Virtual Information Sessions for Fall 2025.
June-July 2024: Register for fall classes.
Summer, 2024: In-Person Information Sessions for Fall 2025.
August 2024: Orientation for all the students attending Syracuse University in the Fall. Family members are welcome. We will also hold a training for all people providing paid supports (e.g., “mentors”) to students in InclusiveU. Whether paid through agencies or private funding, we find this is an important training so all the mentors can meet each other and learn more about the difference between providing supports in a college setting vs. providing supports in employment or high school settings. We also give mentors information about undergraduate supports, iPads, and general college policies.

The Syracuse University Academic Calendar lists the first and last days of classes, breaks, and other important days you will need to know as a student.