Vocational Independence Program

Marketing Needs

Ernst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W.Associate Dean

New York Institute of Technology

Problem Goal of this campaign Mission Vision Core values Relation to NYIT & its mission VIP Structure & Population Target Audience for marketing History of the program & competing forces

Overview

In your own words describe the mission, the vision and the core values of VIP

How does VIP relate to NYIT Describe the VIP population Tell me who is the target audience for

marketing State to me the history of the program How the program markets itself

Objectives

There is a perception that the program is closing in the special education community

There is an invisibility factor within the college itself

There are limited funds All efforts to recruit students are paid for by

the program The program is quite costly with very few

scholarships available and currently NO federal financial aid

Problem

To increase enrollment to 110 students in the next 5 years

Goal

To provide our students with the strategies, skills and supports necessary to prepare them for fulfilling, successful, and independent lives

VIP Mission Statement

To be the world’s leading college-based educational, vocational, social, and independent living program for individuals with learning differences.

 

VIP Vision Statement

The Vocational Independence Program is guided by a dedication to excellence as embodied in its core values:

INTEGRITY COMMITMENT QUALITY SAFETY COOPERATION INNOVATION PROFESSIONALISM

Core Values

A global, private institution of higher education, NYIT has more than 15,000 students on campuses in North America, China, the Middle East, and online. Since 1955, NYIT has pursued its mission to:

◦ Provide career-oriented professional education ◦ Give all qualified students access to opportunity ◦ Support applications-oriented research that

benefits the larger world

NYIT Mission

College that offers a variety of degrees and certificate programs◦ Associates degrees through Doctorate of

Osteopathic Medicine◦ VIP certificate program

Global Campuses◦ Manhattan & Long Island◦ Vancouver, Canada◦ Nanjing, China◦ Abu Dhabi, Bahrain◦ Jordan

New York Institute of Technology

Rated the safest college campus according to Cleary Act reports – Daily Beast

U.S. News & World Report ranked NYIT #74 among colleges that offer masters degree programs

Popular majors: marketing, business, engineering, computer science & graphics, architecture, interior design, and health sciences

New York Institute of Technology

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The VIP Programs of NYIT

Introduction to Independence

Vocational Independence Program

Referral to other programs (e.g. ACLD, POINT)

Advanced Vocational Experience

Summer before 1st

yr

3 year, 2

concentration

s

Ongoing for

grads

Conducted 1 or 2 summers before 1st VIP fall semester. Ages 16-21

7 week summer experience Held in the same dormitories as the

student will live in come fall 4 days a week- ½ of the day is spent in

vocational placement Fridays dedicated to travel training Stipends paid. $ used to teach

budgeting. Students pay for social activities/trips

Emphasis on socialization

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Introduction to Independence

Two Concentrations: 3 Year Program. Ages 18-25+◦ Vocational & Independent Living Skills focus◦ Pre-degree Concentration: students take some

courses at NYIT for credit Addresses academic, vocational, &

independent living skills Individualized attention 2:1 student/staff ratio Department of Labor Funding Traditional curriculum format: freshperson,

sophomore, & junior Certificate of completion Optional 4th year individually tailored

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Vocational Independence Program

Who are the VIP Students?

•They are young adults ages 16-25 years of age with significant learning

disabilities or higher functioning individuals

on the autism spectrum•They must have a

desire to learn how to work and have the

potential to live independently

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In existence for over almost 25 years Student operated coffee house with bands

and karaoke nights Planned activities every weekend Professional Transportation System Travel training to NYC International travel options 6 vocational areas BOCES option Optional 4th year

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What makes VIP unique?

VIPStudent

Academic Counselor

Social Counselor

Vocational Counselor

Budget & Banking Advisor

Independent Living Skills Counselor

Job Coach

Licensed Nurse

Practitioner

Resident Advisors

Transportation

Course Instructors

Technology

Student Sources of Support

Pedometer Program

Fitness electives

Fitness Fridays

Health Class

Fitness Program

Student Activities Center•Swimming Pool•Bowling Alley•Gymnasium•Auditorium•9 Hole Golf Course

Fitness ClubMs. Debbie Hughes,

Personal Trainer

Hawaii

Target Audience

• Parents of Special Education High School Students

• Special Education Consultants & Advocates

•Special Education Administrators & Teachers

•High School Guidance Counselors

•Agency Personnel

Started in 1987 as a part of a fully integrated CI campus

First Step Inc. ◦ Subcontracted by NYIT on CI campus◦ Ostensibly a 501.C3

2005 Lexa Logue, Provost◦ Hired two consultants to evaluate the program◦ Led to the ousting of the dean & founder

January 2006 appointed new dean August 2007 major re-organization

◦ Closing of Graduate Living Program◦ Firing of 9 employees

History of VIP

Enrollment high of 110 students Enrollment low = 47 students Rumors that VIP was closing Fired employees created own GLP program

and began poaching VIP students

Aftermath of Re-organization

We are a college based comprehensive transition program◦ Thames Academy @ Mitchell College◦ Lesley College◦ Beacon College◦ Lynn College◦ University of Southern Illinois @ Carbondale◦ Marshall College◦ Pace Program at St. Louis National University◦ Pace University

Other programs are for profit and college affiliated◦ College Internship Program◦ College Living Experience◦ Gersh Academy @ Daemen College◦ Chapel Haven & Chapel Haven West @ University of Arizona◦ Giant Steps

Competition

2009 re-authorization of the Higher Education Opportunities Act

Governs FAFSA Students with disabilities attending

comprehension transition programs now eligible to apply for FAFSA as long as program has U.S. DOE

NYIT VIP applying this month This is something to taut

New Legislation

Word of Mouth & referrals from camps Direct mailing to guidance counselors &

special education coordinators in Tri-state area

Open Houses NYIT Web site Twitter FaceBook Brochures

Marketing Efforts

30 publications◦ JADD◦ Journal of Human Behavior in the Social

Environment◦ Journal of Social Inclusion◦ Autism Spectrum News◦ Mental Health News◦ Exceptional Parent Magazine◦ Next StepU◦ Link Magazine

Marketing Efforts…continued

Conference Presentations & Exhibition Halls◦ IECA◦ NECHA◦ OCALI◦ LDA◦ ASPEN-NJ◦ AHA◦ ASA◦ CHADD◦ FEGS◦ YAI◦ Guidance Expo◦ LIGCA◦ Choices Conference◦ Future Quest◦ Yale School of Medicine

Marketing Efforts…continued

Carleton Group designed logos and new flyers

Sponsored Kitchen re-design contest Internships for of undergraduate & graduate

programs Largest provider of departmental level

scholarships through our Resident Advisor program

All VIP advertising and recruitment efforts paid for and conducted by the program

Marketing Efforts…continued

Ernst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W.Executive Director & Associate Dean

New York Institute of TechnologyVocational Independence Program

300 Carleton AvenueCentral Islip, NY 11722-9029

631-348-3354evanberg@nyit.edu

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