Program Overview
The CSP currently serves matriculated full-and part-time undergraduate students on the New Brunswick-Piscataway campus only. CSP students may live in on- or off-campus housing, or they may commute from their permanent residence. Please visit our FAQs section for answers to our most common inquiries.
Program Component Details
The CSP program offers two tiers of support: Tier 1 provides weekly 30-minute coaching sessions, a 90-minute skills and strategy group, and monthly social groups for a cost of $2,000 per academic year. Tier 2 (ACCESS +) provides mental health monitoring, 45-60 minute individual coaching sessions, a campus liaison, and weekly peer mentorship for a cost of $7,000 per academic year.
Weekly Skills and Strategies Group - Students in the college support program receive one of the few evidence-based group skills interventions available for neurodivergent college students - the Accessing Campus Connections and Empowering Student Success (ACCESS) intervention.
This unique program includes 8, 90-minute group meetings with 6 - 10 students in each group. During each meeting, group leaders cover psychoeducation/knowledge about ADHD and Autism, executive function skills and strategies, and adaptive thinking and cognitive strategies. Students get to interact with other Rutgers students, develop relationships, support each other, and share successful strategies. As part of the groups, academic and mental health providers from the university come and talk about how to receive additional services, helping students to navigate the Rutgers system and make connections. In the weekly coaching sessions, students learn how to apply the skills and strategies learned in the groups.
Weekly Individual Coaching Sessions - Students have individual meetings with their mentor or “coach” each week following the group session. The coach helps students prioritize and implement the skills and strategies learned in groups.
Each week during coaching sessions, students set realistic short-term goals and outline steps to accomplish those goals. The coach carefully monitors progress and helps motivate the student to implement new skills and strategies. In this way, the content learned in groups is personalized to meet the needs of each CSP student and progress is tracked and celebrated. Students in CSP ACCESS+ receive more intensive weekly coaching related to managing the demands of their schedule, planning ahead to complete assignments and prepare for exams in specific courses, help with identifying and accessing key campus resources, and assistance with finding activities and expanding interests on campus and in the community.
Mental Health Monitoring - Mental health challenges frequently wax and wane and accordingly, university supports for students need to be flexible, and implemented as needed.
This can only be accomplished through careful and frequent monitoring of mental health symptoms. In CSP+, students are asked to complete screening questionnaires several times per year to monitor possible mental health concerns. Follow up is also provided as needed students report stress in their weekly coaching sessions or skills groups. The goal of this is to identify concerns so that mental health supports can be offered to mitigate impact on academic performance and quality of life.
Individual Academic Support - Individual academic coaching meetings are provided to students in ACCESS+ for 45-60 minutes a week in collaboration with the Rutgers Learning Centers.
Academic coaching meetings encourage students to optimize their learning experience by teaching strategies for improved studying, organization, time management, and active learning. In addition, CSP staff facilitate two 60-minute study sessions per week where students are encouraged to apply the skills that they acquire during their academic coaching meetings to complete assigned readings, homework, write papers, complete projects, etc. for their courses. CSP staff can also help to arrange individual academic tutoring sessions related to specific courses/disciplines when needed and subject to tutor availability.
Campus Liaison Service - CSP Students in ACCESS+ are supported by a team of specialized campus liaisons that are available during program hours (Monday-Friday 9am-4pm).
Liaisons help individual students troubleshoot any challenges or issues that may unexpectedly arise across the contexts of college life. Examples of common challenges that campus liaisons are available to assist with include difficulties navigating the campus, living with roommates, communicating effectively with professors, and resolving any other concerns related to academic performance, student conduct, or residence life.
Weekly Peer Mentorship - CSP Peer Mentors are trained neurotypical undergraduates who engage with CSP students, staff and other Peer Mentors regularly. They are a critical part of our program.
There are many challenges that new and returning students face. Often, social and peer-related forms of support can serve as a buffer against the normal stressors students may experience. Therefore, Rutgers operates a Peer Mentor program supporting students on the Autism Spectrum who are currently enrolled as undergraduates. Peer Mentors receive detailed training prior to their participation in the program.
Monthly Social Events - Program members have access to social events such as Campus Spirit Night, Murder Mystery Night, Karaoke, Halloween party, cooking demos, game night and others.
"The CSP has really helped me as a student socially and academically. I really do not know how I would be managing campus life without the supports that the College Support Program offers." - Josh Garfinkel, current CSP student.
