Georgia Southern’s inclusive post-secondary education program receives scholarship money thanks to grant written by special education faculty member

November 11, 2020

Georgia Southern University Assistant Professor of Special Education Stephanie Devine was recently awarded a $32,250 grant from the Georgia Council for Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). Devine, who also serves as the executive director of the College of Education’s EAGLE Academy, was excited to announce that the funds would benefit the Academy and more specifically to assist future students with scholarship opportunities. 

Georgia Southern University Assistant Professor of Special Education Stephanie Devine was recently awarded a $32,250 grant from the Georgia Council for Developmental Disabilities (GCDD). Devine, who also serves as the executive director of the College of Education’s EAGLE Academy, was excited to announce that the funds would benefit the Academy and more specifically to assist future students with scholarship opportunities. 

Equal Access for Gainful Learning and Employment (EAGLE) Academy offers students with mild intellectual disabilities the opportunity to attend Georgia Southern and earn a certificate of completion based on individual career interests. The non-degree program includes courses and internships that will enhance their life skills as well as further their career aspirations. 

“Thanks to this grant, we were able to distribute $15,000 in financial assistance to our current students this semester, and we will distribute an additional $15,000 in Spring 2021,” said Devine.

As a Comprehensive Transition Program, students in EAGLE Academy can apply for Federal Financial Aid in the form of Pell Grants. These do help supplement the costs of attending the University, but they are generally small in nature. 

“Students in EAGLE Academy do not have access to federal student loans or other university scholarships at this time,” said Devine. “Students attend using a variety of funding sources. They can receive some support from Vocational Rehabilitation if they open a case and are approved to attend by that agency. Historically, this funding has been pretty substantial, but recently Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) has made some changes to their funding process for students in Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs like EAGLE Academy. This has led to significantly less funding provided by GVRA.”

For students with disabilities looking to advance their education and skills, the GCDD grant will provide an opportunity for them to become a part of the Eagle Nation.

“We are at a critical point for the program,” said Devine. “Since EAGLE Academy students pay all the same tuition, room and board, and fees associated with full-time undergraduate attendance, as well as an EAGLE Academy program fee–the only way we can pay for staff and the program in general–the cost is pretty significant.”

While this grant will assist current students for the next year, Devine said it is important to find additional support to ensure all students who would like to attend can be a part of the Academy at Georgia Southern.

“We have a Foundation account that is set up to help provide student scholarships to the program that we definitely need more donations toward. We want EAGLE Academy to be accessible to ALL students who want to attend!”
Donations to support EAGLE Academy can be made by visiting the University’s giving portal and designating the donation to “EAGLE Academy.”