UGA Faculty Offer Class for Undocumented Students; Sage Offers Online Degree For Autistic Students

Freedom University. Five professors at the University of Georgia have started a program for undocumented immigrants who have been shut out of the state school system, which they are calling Freedom University. The "rigorous" seminar is intended to expose students to the demands of the college classroom, although credit is unlikely to transfer should they be accepted at another institution. "This is not a substitute for letting these students into UGA, Georgia State or the other schools," said Pam Voekel, a history professor at UGA and one of the program's initiators. "It is designed for people who, right now, don't have another option." [The Associated Press]

Union Rings? Youngstown State University faculty unexpectedly called off their planned strike, which would have prevented classes from starting as planned Monday. In addition, the delayed disbursing of financial aid will be able to go ahead. Unionized faculty cited their students as the reason they called off the planned strike. “Just as the students stood up for us, we are now standing up for the students. Continuing to work will release financial aid for the students and ensure that the fall semester will start on time,” said union spokesperson Sherry Linkon. [The Vindicator]

Achieve Degree. Sage Colleges' department of applied behavior analysis is pioneering the first program designed specifically for the needs of autistic students which offers a bachelor's degree. The program, known as the Achieve Degree, will be offered online, in order to lessen the strain posed by a traditional classroom environment. “It allows them to learn from their most comfortable environment, whether it’s home, a library, a friend’s house, a treatment center, their psychiatrist’s office," she said. "It takes away that need to be in a room full of people that they might be uncomfortable with.” Classes in the Achieve Degree program will begin in January. [Inside Higher Ed]

LGBT-Friendly Campus. Campus Pride has released its annual "LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index," which grades schools based on how safe and welcoming they are for queer students and staff. Colleges and universities can apply to be graded by answering a series of self-assessment questions. Out of 292 schools surveyed, 33 received a perfect score; among them were Oberlin College, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania. Several schools, including Iowa Central Community College and Philander Smith College, received just one star out of five. [Queerty]

Jon Christian is a reporter with Campus Progress. Follow him on Twitter @Jon_Christian.

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