Families from around the world are flocking to Union Grove, and for good reason. The small Wisconsin town is home to Shepherds College, the nation’s only fully accredited, three-year residential post-secondary program designed specifically for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Launched in 2008, Shepherds College creates opportunities for IDD students to live out their purpose through four guiding pillars: faith, life skills, personal development and job readiness.
“The greatest benefit of a Shepherds College education is that it prepares students for long-term independence, not just life after graduation. Students grow in their faith, vocational and daily living skills, relationships and confidence so they can make decisions, contribute to the workplace, manage responsibilities and live with greater purpose,” said Shepherds College Chief Donor Experience Officer, MaryAnn Raash.
Like any other college campus, students enjoy dorm life, classroom learning, green spaces, student-run clubs and more. This is by design. The college follows a philosophy coined Appropriate Independence™.
“Appropriate Independence™ is foundational to Shepherds College. It reflects our belief that every individual is created by God with purpose and potential. Rather than doing things for students that they can learn to do themselves, we provide graduated responsibility, real-world practice and accountability. This approach helps students build confidence, vocational skills and independence,” said Sheperds College Vice President of Advancement, David Tennyck.
Students choose from three vocational majors: culinary arts, hospitality and technology. Throughout their three years on campus, students develop and improve foundational skills within their chosen major through classroom instruction and occupational experiences.
Take a culinary arts student, for example. During their first year at Shepherds College, they spend the majority of their time in the classroom and lab, strengthening their expertise in cooking, baking and food presentation. When they enter their third year, they are able to work at a local business, applying learned skills in a professional setting.
“Partnerships with local businesses give students the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world settings while building confidence, responsibility and professionalism. These experiences help bridge the gap between training and long-term employment. They also allow employers and co-employees to see firsthand the value and capability individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities bring to the workplace,” said Tennyck.
Partnerships prove beneficial not only to the third-year students pursuing occupational experiences but also to the continuous improvement of the college’s curriculum. For example, Marcus Corporation has been a great resource as the college builds out its hospitality lab. The company donated supplies and shared insight on hospitality best practices. The college hopes that more local businesses will participate in similar ways, leading to greater student success and strengthened talent pipelines.
Since its inception, the college has celebrated 268 graduates and achieved a 90% employment rate. With plans to expand the learning model to new locations, those numbers are predicted to rise.
“Five years from now, we expect to see Shepherds College curriculum impacting lives in many locations across the nation and the world. With the current launch of commuter campuses in Florida and Tennessee, we hope to see campuses in other states as well. With last year’s launch of our streamlined program designed for churches and day centers, we hope to see several hundred churches and day centers nationwide providing our curriculum to thousands. We also hope to see our current international programs in Brazil and Hong Kong expanded to many other countries,” said Shepherds Foundation, Inc. President Brian Canright.
