Is GOAL Right for Me?

Please use the following screening tool to decide if GOAL would be a good option for you!

• Do you have an intellectual or developmental disability? 

  If you have a learning disability and only require accommodations, regular admission to University of Northern Colorado may be a better option than UNC GOAL. Please visit the Disability Resource Center Website to learn more about supports offered at UNC.

  UNC GOAL requires student's to have a documented intellectual or developmental disability along with a current psychoeducational evaluation to be uploaded with the application as documentation of a student's disability, academic level, and social skills. For more information about what qualifies as an intellectual or developmental disability, please visit the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities website.

• Are you 18 years or older?

  UNC GOAL students must be 18 years old by August 1 of the academic year in which they are applying.

• Are you your own guardian?

  UNC GOAL is a self-determined program. Decisions made at the college level require GOAL students to be their own guardian. Being a college student requires accountability, responsibility, and self-determination development. This is a crucial step to ensuring true independence upon graduation. Please visit Ability Connection Colorado to find out more about guardianship and Proxy-Decision Makers for Medical Treatment in Colorado.

• Do you have a high school diploma or certificate of completion?

  UNC GOAL students must have a high school diploma or certificate of completion upon graduation from high school or transition program.

• Do you have high levels of independence?

  UNC GOAL does not  provide 24/7 supervision of students and offers limited structure on the weekends.

• Can you handle long periods of free time without someone telling you what you should be doing

  UNC GOAL students must be able to handle longer periods of free time without direct supervision or instruction from GOAL staff and mentors.

• Can you get up and get to class without prompting?

  Students attending UNC through GOAL must be able to wake themselves up in the morning and get ready for class by themselves. This includes taking care of personal care duties, eating breakfast, and travel time to class.

• Do you know how to navigate new environments?

  Students enrolled in the GOAL program will undergo travel training throughout the first year, but are expected to know how to navigate around campus by themselves with or without navigation tools.

• Do you understand safe boundaries for yourself and others?

  UNC GOAL students must be free of a history of behavioral issues and/or disruptions. These behaviors include but are not limited to: frequent class disruptions, aggressiveness, defiance, dishonesty, running away, self-injurious behaviors, stealing, etc.

• Are you willing to accept correction and constructive criticism?

  For many of our students, it is their first time away from home. There are A LOT of learning opportunities that come along with independence on a college campus. Students must be able to accept re-direction as well as constructive criticism from GOAL staff to ensure a successful experience at UNC.

•  Do you have a strong motivation to attend the University of Northern Colorado?

  College is not for everyone and parent's desire for a student to attend UNC GOAL is not enough. Each GOAL student must have a strong motivation to succeed, attend all classes, and be involved in campus life while enrolled at UNC.