About the UCAM Program
In UCAM, we believe that relationships are key to student success and persistence in earning a college degree. Our program is centered on a coaching model that brings students and coaches together on the basis of mutual respect, which creates the trusting relationships and empowering environment needed for students to engage in the intensive, hands-on work of building college-level academic skills and independence. Our work extends beyond academics to helping our students find a community in UCAM and their place at SOU, recognizing that co-curricular engagement and wraparound support are fundamental to college success.
The UCAM program is open to all students. We offer a level of individualized support that ensures that students with academic need, learning differences, neurodiversity, and mental health challenges can equitably access courses, curriculum, and opportunities at SOU. Many students choose SOU because of UCAM, and our students are retained to SOU and persist towards graduation at a much higher rate than SOU’s general population and the national average.
The Coaching Model
Weekly one-on-one coaching meetings are complemented by diverse types of support and opportunities for community engagement. We provide professional writing tutoring, cross-campus care and referrals, daily group study sessions hosted by a coach in our community space, weekly social events, a special orientation program and 3-credit course sequence for first-year students, as well as engagement opportunities for families.
Our Coaches
Our professional coaches collectively bring decades of experience working in educational settings and mentorship roles to the UCAM program. Trained and versed in coaching methods, executive functioning, learning differences, inclusivity, and accessibility, they know best practices for student support and advocate for the whole student.
Differences Between Disability Resources & UCAM
Disability Resources (DR) at SOU provides academic accommodations for students with documented disabilities and acts as a resource to all of SOU in creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment. University Coaching & Mentoring (UCAM) is a comprehensive program that is designed to support students with executive function challenges and learning differences. It is in addition to a student’s disability accommodations if those are appropriate for the student.
UCAM Program Fees
The UCAM Program is an optional, fee-for-service program that provides comprehensive support for students with executive function challenges, learning disabilities, ADHD, ASD, and mental health challenges. The program fee will be factored into cost-of-attendance for financial aid purposes. We encourage all students who may qualify for financial aid to apply. Students are billed quarterly through SOU’s Business Services.
UCAM Program Application
Students must be admitted to Southern Oregon University before they can be accepted to UCAM. We encourage students to apply simultaneously to SOU and the UCAM program. After admittance to the university, completed UCAM applications are reviewed and students are notified of acceptance within three weeks. Currently, enrolled students at SOU may apply at any time; enrollment in UCAM generally begins the following term.