College of Charleston faculty and staff support the College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in a variety of ways. One of those ways is through the College’s REACH Program.
Established in 2010, the REACH Program is a four-year, fully inclusive certificate program for students with mild intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Students in the REACH Program participate in all activities offered by the College, with individualized support from peer tutors, mentors, staff and faculty.
Over the years, more than 400 faculty and staff members have partnered with REACH, attending trainings and meeting individually with students in the REACH program throughout the semester. Their contributions to these students’ lives are recognized every year through the annual REACH Program Awards.
These awards celebrate individuals who have worked to increase the level of inclusive education and services for students with intellectual disabilities on campus, thereby supporting the College’s core value of creating and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community.
Jennifer Cavalli and Brooke Permenter ’06, Honors College
William Farrior III & Brian Porterfield Collaborators Award
This award recognizes an individual who has worked collaboratively with the REACH Program to uphold the values and ideals of an inclusive post-secondary education.
“Even as we weathered the worst of the pandemic, the partnership between the REACH and the Honors Engaged programs remained strong and stable for our connected students,” says Permenter, director of student engagement and faculty fellow in the Honors College. “Each year, the students show us that they all seek two things in common in their pursuit of higher education: community and belonging. Collaborating with REACH is a great way to foster both for students across our programs.“
“It is a privilege to partner with the REACH Program. It is one of our most successful partnerships with regard to our goal of sustained community engagement,” agrees Cavalli, associate director of student engagement and Honors faculty fellow. “Our students who serve as mentors consistently remain with REACH long after their first year and, more often than not, cite the experience as one of the most fulfilling and memorable of their time at the College. This is a testament to the strength of the leadership and students in the REACH Program.”
To learn more about the REACH Program Awards, check out the complete article by Alicia Lutz in The College Today.
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