The ACTS Program aims to meet the needs of each individual student, meaning everyone utilizes the program differently. Some students rely more heavily on academic support rather than social support. Other students need support in completing daily routines and scheduling their time. Mentors work with students in the areas of academic organization, social skills, and daily-living and career-building skills. As an incoming student, the ACTS program can help you create a weekly schedule, plan and execute a study plan, navigate campus, manage roommate conflicts, or find clubs to join. As a junior or senior, the ACTS program can help you find and apply to internships, hone your interview skills for a future job, and develop the independent living skills needed for life after graduation. The transition to college can be a difficult one. Therapy services are available to anyone struggling with the change. If there is a need that the ACTS Program does not serve, the program will connect you to campus or community resources.
The ACTS Program Costs $4000 per semester. Fees are automatically billed to the student’s UA account each semester.
You can find more information on funding support here.
You can find the application as well as information about supporting documentation here.
During the interview, students will meet the director and program associate, and a parent(s)/guardian(s) will accompany the student. While the program associate takes notes, the director will ask the student a variety of questions in the areas of academics, extracurriculars/social activities, daily-living skills, mood/coping skills, and problem-solving scenarios. Although we do direct the questions to the students, parents are welcome to add any pertinent information or insight.
A major difference in accommodations at the college level is that students are expected to apply for services through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). The ACTS Program can support students through the process of applying for and using accommodations. Not all accommodations in high school will translate to the college setting. Common college accommodations can include note taking technology (not a student note taker), extended time on tests, testing in a reduced distraction environment, and priority registration. More details about accommodations can be found here.
All ACTS students receive priority housing and can live on campus throughout their time at UA. Students should notify the program director of their preferences, and ACTS staff will collaborate with Housing and Residential Services to secure the housing placement.
Weekly mentor meetings look different for everyone and are structured to address the needs of the student. Weekly meetings are 45 minutes to an hour and can take place in the ACTS Building or elsewhere on campus. All mentors and mentees will have a check-in for each service area (academic organization, social life, and life skills) and will dive deeper into each area as needed. Typically, mentors will do a weekly grade check and confirm a plan for upcoming assignments or exams. Next, the mentor would check in about the student’s progress toward their social goals. Finally, mentors may ask about daily routines like medication, sleep, or eating habits. Mentors and mentees would make a plan together to address any issues that arise in any service area.
All mentors go through an interview process and are personally selected by UA-ACTS staff. Mentor/mentee pairings are made with consideration of student needs, mentor skills and knowledge, and personality.
The ACTS Program holds ten social activities per semester and students are expected to attend at least five of these. These are held either on campus or in the community. The events are designed with sensory needs in mind and typically last 1 -1.5 hours. The goal of these activities is to offer students an opportunity to form connections and have fun. The environment is open to only ACTS students. There will be no more than 20 people (usually about 15 people). Some events are held adjacent to larger campus events to allow students to participate in a smaller/calmer space. For example, the University holds an A-Day Tailgate on the Quad (which is typically very crowded) and the ACTS program held a smaller-scale tailgate a block away. Other activities that were popular include Murder Mystery Night, Mini Golf, Board Game Night, and sporting events. Of course, food is always provided at social activities!
ACTS students are expected to complete 40 hours of study hall per semester. This equates to roughly 3 hours a week and students will have a monthly goal to help stay on track. The ACTS building has a designated study hall room with various quiet working spaces. A desktop computer and printer are available for use. Students will sign in and out to keep track of their hours. Additionally, mentors and mentees are encouraged to schedule designated study hall hours in their schedule.
UA-ACTS therapy services are provided by graduate students in clinical psychology who are supervised by a licensed psychologist. The graduate students and the licensed psychologist communicate regularly to ensure best practices. Confidentiality is always a priority. Students can attend therapy sessions weekly or bi-weekly. Therapy takes place in the ACTS building and typically lasts 45 minutes. The therapist will meet students where they are with empathy and compassion. Common topics can include transitioning to college life, coping strategies, managing symptoms of anxiety and depression, healthy routine-building, building positive connections, or setting boundaries. Therapy is an optional component of the ACTS program.
Call the ACTS emergency phone. UA-ACTS staff are available after business hours and on weekends to respond to any emergency.
The University of Alabama maintains more than 200 emergency “Blue Phones” spread across campus in outdoor areas, parking lots and decks. These emergency phones are painted bright blue and have the word “emergency” on them. UAPD can be reached directly by pushing the call button on the emergency phone.
The Student Health Center and Pharmacy offers medical services, including psychiatry, that are available to students. Prescriptions can be transferred, and student insurance is also available here.