Frequently Asked Questions
NEXT Steps offers a college experience that prepares young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for competitive integrated employment and independent living through academic learning, engagement in the Messiah community, living in the residence halls, and career exploration activities.
NEXT Steps is designed to be completed in two years.
Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Career and Personal Development certificate. This certificate is approved by Middle States Commission of Higher Education. Students need to complete 54 credits to earn the Career and Personal Development certificate with an area of concentration.
Students choose one area of concentration when they enter the NEXT Steps program. The concentrations include Human Services, Health and Wellness, Business, Government, and Public Administration, and Liberal and Applied Arts.
Traditional college courses are taught by Messiah faculty. NEXT Steps students can choose up to (2) per semester and will have a modified syllabus. Core courses (Community Engagement, Independent Living, and Employment Readiness) are taught by program staff with teacher certification. Core courses are taken by NEXT Steps program participants only.
NEXT Steps is a residential program. We offer instruction both in the classroom as well as practical application of skills in the residence halls. All students enrolled in the program will live on-campus in one of the residence halls.
NEXT Steps provides a dedicated support team including a Resident Life Educator who lives in the residence hall. In addition, Messiah offers 24-hour on-call service and resident assistants for each floor. Daily living and well-being walkthroughs are conducted frequently to assist students in their living space.
Yes. NEXT Steps students have support from peer mentors who are full-time Messiah students. Peer mentors assist students academically, socially, and vocationally as well as help them fully integrate into the Messiah community.
There are a variety of different funding opportunities including D.R.E.A.M scholarship, NEXT Step scholarship, and other private scholarships. We also accept Medicaid Waivers. Check out the Tuition and Financial Aid for NEXT Steps page for additional information and links.
An applicant must be between the ages of 18 and 23 years old upon admission to the program and have an intellectual disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior as expressed in conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills. Applicants must have a strong motivation to continue education, become an independent adult, pursue employment and possess sufficient emotional and behavioral maturity.
NEXT Steps is a Fall semester start program. Applications open on July 1st for the upcoming academic year. Interested individuals should complete the online application, upload all required documentation, and provide (2) references. Upon receiving a COMPLETE application, a member of the NEXT Steps team will reach out to schedule an in-person interview. Interviews for the upcoming academic year are typically held between January-March.
Yes. NEXT Steps program accepts out of state students. Certain types of funding and scholarship opportunities may be different for these students.