Welcome to the home of the award-winning Succeed, Plus, and Link college programs for the neurodiverse
The Office of Inclusive Post Secondary Education (OIPE) believes in empowerment through education and active collaboration with diverse campus and community partners. Together, we work to create a campus where neurodiverse adults can foster self-determination skills, live independently, learn in a supportive and inclusive environment, find secure and meaningful employment, and be immersed in a rich social climate.
We offer three higher education programs for students aged 18 years and older with intellectual disability:
- Succeed - ideal for non-degree seekers
- Plus - currently offered to graduates of the Succeed Program
- Link (Degree or Certificate) - ideal for students seeking undergraduate certificate or bachelor's degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis
The Succeed Program is the recipient of multiple funding grants, most recently, a $2.4 million federal grant to be used between the years 2025 - 2030 to further develop the program. This is the second time it was awarded this grant by the US Department of Education. In 2022, the Succeed Program was honored with the Missouri Governor's Council on Disability 22nd Inclusion Award and Focus St. Louis "What's Right with the Region" Award. The following year, it received the prestigious UMSL Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Collaborative Research and Creativity. It is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a model Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP). As a CTP program, students who qualify may receive federal financial aid in the form of the Federal Pell Grant, and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Succeed Students must fill out the FASFA in order to determine eligibility.
Please visit UMSL Student Financial Services website to learn how to fill out the FASFA.
Applications for fall semester 2026 in the Succeed Program and Link Certificate Program have concluded.
Our final deadline was on April 10, 2026. If considering applying for fall semester 2027, please note the following required documentation:
- Student résumé (if available)
- Copy of educational, medical, or psychological documentation of disability
- Copy of the most recent full transition plan, such as:
- Individualized Education Plan (IEP) with Transition Plan
- Individualized Service Plan (ISP)
- Person-Centered Plan (PCP)
- Or a combination of these - Copy of any Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) and/or Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) completed within the past 5 years (if applicable — must be submitted if they exist)
- High school transcript
- College transcript (if applicable — must be submitted if available)
- Copies of results from Career Assessments, Transition Assessments, or Summary of Performance (if applicable — must be submitted if available)
- Guardianship or Power of Attorney documentation (if applicable — must be submitted if available)
Scheduling for our Succeed Program Preview and Day in the Life Visit (includes shadowing class) concludes by May 5, 2026, at 5 PM.
Apply for camp 2026
Experience what it's like to be a college student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) in the OIPE Succeed Program. If you're at least 17 years old, with a documented disability, and are able to manage your own medications, then we encourage you to apply to our popular summer camp for the neurodiverse. Camp runs for one week with these date options: June 8 - 12 or July 13 - 17. If you are a resident of the City of St. Louis, or attend high school at a St. Louis Public School, you may be eligible for a full camp scholarship. For more information, email OIPE@umsl.edu. Final deadline to apply: May 27, 2026.
