When students arrive at UVM, they come seeking many of the same things: new experiences, meaningful friendships, academic growth, and a pathway toward a fulfilling career.

For students in the Think College Vermont program, those aspirations are no different.

Founded in 2010 and housed within UVM’s College of Education and Social Services, Think College Vermont offers an inclusive college experience for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Through academics, social engagement, independent living skill development, and career preparation, students work toward a Certificate of College Studies while becoming active members of the UVM community.

A Gift Creates New Opportunities

A generous gift in 2024 from an anonymous donor couple is helping strengthen one of the program’s most important goals: preparing students for meaningful employment.

The Seeing the Future for All Fund supports career development opportunities for Think College Vermont students, with a particular emphasis on campus employment and workplace readiness.

“For our students, the goal of this whole program is employment,” said Think College Vermont Project Director Bryan Dague. “We want students to get better jobs as a result of being in this program."

The impact of this couple’s generosity on this specific goal was immediate.

One of the most visible outcomes has been an expanded partnership with UVM Campus Recreation. Through the fund, Think College Vermont students have been hired for paid campus jobs that might otherwise have been difficult to access.

“What people don’t realize is we’re competing with all other UVM students and with federal work-study grants with specific restrictions.” Dague said.

Campus departments often face budget limitations of their own. The fund provides a practical solution by helping cover student wages, making it easier for departments to welcome Think College students into their workplaces.

The result has been more opportunities for students to gain valuable workplace experience. Last year, four Think College students worked with Campus Recreation and one student worked with the Career Center – all supported by the Seeing the Future for All Fund.

Beyond a Paycheck

Those experiences matter far beyond a paycheck.

Work experiences help students develop professional skills, confidence, and independence. Just as importantly, they create opportunities for interaction and connection throughout the broader UVM community.

“I think working for offices like Campus Recreation, the Career Center, and UVM Dining gives a lot of exposure to other students and different parts of campus,” Dague said. “And then I think an equal part of that is that the student body get to see students with disabilities interacting and working and being UVM students.”

That visibility reflects the philosophy at the heart of Think College Vermont.

Students take UVM courses, participate in campus activities, work with peer mentors, and build the skills needed to navigate life after college. The program’s four pillars — academics, social and recreational engagement, independent living skills, and work experience — are designed to help students thrive as members of the university community.

These pillars also map to UVM's broader strategic plan, Green, Gold, and Bold, which includes a goal to prepare all UVM students to navigate life after UVM

“We want them recognized and treated as just another UVM student,” Dague said. “I think that’s huge.”

The fund has also enabled the program to think more broadly about career preparation. It helped purchase specialized employment-readiness training designed for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The self-paced curriculum focuses on workplace communication, professionalism, teamwork, critical thinking, and other skills that employers value.

In the coming year, the fund will also help support a recent UVM graduate and former Think College mentor who will work part-time with students on career development activities, including resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and electronic portfolios that showcase their skills and accomplishments.

For Dague, these investments address an important challenge.

“A lot of times people will just see the disability and think, ‘Well, they can’t do this or they can’t do that,’” he said. “But if you can show a potential employer an electronic portfolio of experiences and skills or a robust LinkedIn profile, it really helps.”

The fund has also supported professional development, conference participation, and outreach efforts intended to strengthen employment pathways and build new partnerships across campus. Together, these initiatives are creating momentum for a program that today serves 16 students and continues to attract growing interest.

Seeing Through the Lens of Possibility

Looking ahead, Dague sees even greater potential.

Like many innovative programs, Think College operates with limited staffing and resources. Additional philanthropic support could help expand capacity, deepen career services, and create more opportunities for students to engage in paid work before graduation.

The anonymous couple behind the Seeing the Future for All Fund recognized something important: for Think College students, access to employment experiences can be transformative.

Their generosity is helping students build résumés and workplace skills. It is helping campus partners say “yes” to new opportunities. And it is helping students see themselves not through the lens of disability, but through the lens of possibility.

As Dague reflected, the fund has provided something he has long hoped to strengthen.

“I’ve long wanted to increase connections and partnerships within the UVM community, and this funding gave us an opportunity to do that.” he said. “I’m grateful to be able to expand opportunities for our students.”

For Think College students, that expansion is opening doors — to jobs, to confidence, and to a future filled with greater opportunity.

If you'd also like to help Think College Vermont students, consider a gift to the Seeing the Future for All Fund.