Vocational Independence Program Marketing Needs

1. Vocational Independence Program Marketing Needs Ernst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W. Associate Dean New York Institute of Technology

2. Overview • 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

3. Objectives • 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

4. Problem • 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

5. Goal • To increase enrollment to 110 students in the next 5 years

6. VIP Mission Statement • To provide our students with the strategies, skills and supports necessary to prepare them for fulfilling, successful, and independent lives

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

8. Core Values • The Vocational Independence Program is guided by a dedication to excellence as embodied in its core values: • INTEGRITY • COMMITMENT • QUALITY • SAFETY • COOPERATION • INNOVATION • PROFESSIONALISM

9. NYIT Mission • 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

10. New York Institute of Technology • 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

11. 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

12. The VIP Programs of NYIT Summer before 1st yr Introduction to Independence 3 year, 2 concentrations Advanced Vocational Experience Vocational Independence Program Ongoing for grads Referral to other programs (e.g. ACLD, POINT)

13. Introduction to Independence • 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

14. Vocational Independence Program • 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

15. 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

16. What makes VIP unique? • 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

17. Student Sources of Support

18. Fitness Program • Pedometer Program • Fitness electives • Fitness Fridays • Health Class

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

20. Fitness Club Ms. Debbie Hughes, Personal Trainer

21. Hawaii

30. Target Audience • Parents of Special Education High School Students • Special Education Consultants & Advocates • Special Education Administrators & Teachers • High School Guidance Counselors • Agency Personnel

31. History of VIP • 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

32. Aftermath of Re-organization • 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

33. Competition • 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

34. New Legislation • 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

35. Marketing Efforts • 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

36. Marketing Efforts…continued • 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

37. 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

38. 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

40. For Further Information: Ernst VanBergeijk, Ph.D., M.S.W. Executive Director & Associate Dean New York Institute of Technology Vocational Independence Program 300 Carleton Avenue Central Islip, NY 11722-9029 631-348-3354 evanberg@nyit.edu