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UNT ELEVAR (Empower, Learn, Excel, enVision, Advance, Rise) is a four-year inclusive postsecondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities (ID). Following the definition of the program’s name, ELEVAR [lift, soar, rise, in Spanish], the program’s vision is to empower young adults with ID who wish to continue postsecondary education (PSE) to become self-determined, independent, and healthy adults readied for integrated competitive employment. The UNT ELEVAR program has received U.S. Department of Education Comprehensive Transition Program Accreditation.
Program Contact:
Brenda L. Barrio, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Special Education (Critical Perspectives)
UNT ELEVAR Inclusive Post-Secondary Program (Project Lead)
Educational Psychology Department
College of Education
University of North Texas
https://elevar.unt.edu
Certified Transition Program Certificate
Fully admitted UNT ELEVAR students who fulfill all the requirements below will earn the Certified Transition Program Certificate (CTP) from the Department of Education.
Certificate requirements
The ELEVAR certificate requires the completion of 48 credit hours of course work earned with a grade of pass.
Course work, 48 hours of zero-credit courses
Zero-credit courses will include modified assignments tied to both course content and specific career and or life goals. Course of study (48-hour program) will be individually determined in relation to student goals. Satisfactory academic progress will be measured by performance on individually modified assignments.
Internships
Minimum of eight (8) supervised internships related to career goal. Internships can be paid or non-paid. Every internship must last no less than six-weeks and can be completed in one or more inclusive and competitive employment setting.
Workshops, 32 hours
UNT ELEVAR Program semester-long seminar workshops. Semester-long workshops will include assignments tied to course content, career goals, and life goals. Course of study (32-hour program) will be required for all students in the program. Satisfactory academic progress will be measured by performance on individually modified assignments. Additional workshops can be accessed by the student if needed.
Portfolio
Student portfolio of accomplishments is required for completion of the program. Portfolio will include examples of assignments or projects for courses taken; projects for classes/workshops; examples of skills obtained through internships; and may also include examples of leadership or service learning activities on campus or in the community, extra-curricular involvement, etc.
Career Certificate
In addition to the CTP certificate, fully admitted UNT ELEVAR students may select to earn a UNT Career Certificate. This certificate is available only to students enrolled in the UNT ELEVAR program. Only UNT ELEVAR students who are admitted and fulfill all the requirements below will earn the Career Certificate from the University of North Texas.
UNT ELEVAR Career Certificate
UNT ELEVAR has one certificate with five career emphases. Students select one career emphasis:
- Arts and Communication
- Business
- Public Service, Health and Education
- Sport and Hospitality
- STEM
The UNT ELEVAR Career Certificate is designed to ready students to enter the workforce and develop pathways to meaningful careers. The UNT Career Certificate is completed during the UNT ELEVAR four-year academic program. The following are core courses that are required for the UNT Career Certificate and the courses must be satisfactorily completed for the Certificate to be awarded.
Core required courses for UNT ELEVAR Career Certificate
- Health and Sex Education I and II (completion during the freshman year) - equivalent to 6 credit hours
- COMM 1010 - Introduction to Communication (completion during the freshman year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours
- Financial Literacy (completion during the freshman year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours
- UCAR 1000Z - Career Readiness Seminar I (completion during the freshman year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours
- Independent Living I and II (completion during the sophomore year) - equivalent to 3 hour each (6 hours total)
- Self-Advocacy (completion during the junior year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours
- Community Engagement (completion during the junior year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours
- Senior Seminar I and II (completion during the senior year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours each (6 hours total)
- UCAR 2000Z - Career Readiness Seminar II (completion during the senior year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours
- Internships I, II, III, and IV (completion of I and II during the sophomore year and III and IV during the junior year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours each (12 hours total)
- Advanced Career Internships I and II (completion during the senior year) - equivalent to 3 credit hours each (6 hours total)
Additional requirements for UNT ELEVAR Career Certificate
In addition to core requirements, UNT ELEVAR students seeking the UNT ELEVAR Career Certificate will satisfactorily complete six (6), 3-hour academic courses for their specific UNT ELEVAR Career Certificate emphasis. These academic courses are selected by the UNT academic discipline faculty, UNT ELEVAR academic advisors, and workforce coordinators to prepare students for careers and employment in their chosen career emphasis. These academic courses are UNT academic courses offered face-to-face, hybrid or online as designed and approved by the academic department for 3 hours of credit.
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