---
date: "2024-08-18"
speaker: "Mike & Terri Kern / Michela Marquez"
organization: "St. Joseph Cupertino Program, Benedictine College"
topic: "Post-Secondary Program for Students with IDD"
blurb: "Mike and Terri Kern started the St. Joseph Cupertino Program at Benedictine College for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities."
---

# Mike & Terri Kern / Michela Marquez - Post-Secondary Program for Students with IDD

**Date:** 2024-08-18  
**Organization:** St. Joseph Cupertino Program, Benedictine College

> Mike and Terri Kern started the St. Joseph Cupertino Program at Benedictine College for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

## Notes from August 18th - Mike & Terri Kern - St. Joseph Cupertino Program

- [St. Joseph Cupertino Program](https://www.benedictine.edu/academics/success/cupertino) at Benedictine College
- Named for [St. Joseph of Cupertino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_of_Cupertino), patron saint of intellectual developmental disabilities

### Program Details:
- Max 8 students: 2 per grade
- Students receive a **certificate of completion**, not a degree
- Students attend classes in an "audit" capacity at the audit rate
- After first semester, students can choose to continue in program or pursue a full degree
- Students choose a major area interesting to them that will help with meaningful work after completion
- Students live in typical dorms — not segregated

### Peer Mentor Model:
- **Academic Peer Mentor:** 4-6 hrs/week
- **Wellness Peer Mentor:** 1 hr/week — hygiene, nutrition, exercise
- **Social Peer Mentor:** 1 hr/week — club enrollment, social life
- Mentors are paid through work study, typically Education or Special Ed majors

### Other Support:
- Student success center available on demand
- Director meets regularly with the student's teachers
- 2 or 4 year program
- Students pay room & board + audit fee (no scholarships currently since not degree-seeking)
- Admin working on supplementary Medicaid funding

### How to Apply:
- Student must be able to live on their own (no nighttime check-ins)
- Large paper application focused on student's needs
- Student interviews with panel (parents NOT included)
- Purpose is to ensure the University can provide a safe environment

### Why Consider It:
- If your child is adamant about attending college
- Safe environment to own their independence and build self-confidence
- A great way to give "[Dignity of Risk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dignity_of_risk)" with a safety net — a concept emphasized by Bridget Murphy and Amy Allison


## Attachments

- `Tailgate.pdf` *(download from original Gmail email)*