College Unbound Podcast
Focus Collegiate provides comprehensive and boundless support to college students who learn differently. College UnBound is our podcast.
By capitalizing on strengths, we help students build the self-reliance they need to find success and joy in school. Because college should be fun… Join us as we discuss our philosophy, tactics, strategies, and all things college for diverse learners.
Episode 7: The Whys and Hows of Self-Advocacy
About this episode:
Tue, 01 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500 ◦ 16 minutes
Welcome to Episode 7 of College UnBound. Our topic of discussion this week is Self-Advocacy. The experiential learning model we use with our college students is focused on the long-term predictors of college success. Primary among them is self-advocacy. It is one of the core competencies that impacts independent living.
No longer guided by an IEP, college students must seek out their own accommodations, find and fit into a new social niche, overcome stigmas, and beat low expectations—activities all demanding self-advocacy. Such skills enable students to participate actively in their learning and that of others.
In this episode we discuss why and how we support students in the development of the self-advocacy skills they will benefit from for a lifetime.
Episode 6: The Student Support Agreement
About this episode:
Mon, 23 Nov 2020 16:00:00 -0500 ◦ 16 minutes
This week we dig into the Student Support Agreement which is an expression of each student’s Learning Agenda. While the Learning Agenda outlines what students work on, the Student Support Agreement pinpoints how.
Focus Collegiate’s approach is based on student goals and student buy-in, without them, we and our students are nowhere. The Student Support Agreement ensures the incorporation of goals and commitment as it presents a Personal Balance Sheet of Strengths and Gaps. Knowing these suggests a framework for growth.
Built upon life skills, mental health, executive function, and resiliency self-assessments, the Student Support Agreement gives each student invaluable input into how we work together with them.
Episode 5: The Learning Agenda
About this episode:
Fri, 13 Nov 2020 16:00:00 -0500 ◦ 17 minutes
In Episode 5 of College UnBound, we discuss the Learning Agenda. An integral part of the Intentional Change Theory at the center of the unbounded support we provide college students who learn differently, the Learning Agenda is our road map.
Each unique Learning Agenda is the expression of how a student builds on their existing strengths while reducing their perceived gaps. Through honest dialogue with our students, we design the Learning Agenda to help them make decisions that accentuate their talents and abilities and keep them moving forward.
Episode 4: An Action-oriented Model for Change
About this episode:
Thu, 05 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500 ◦ 15 minutes
When he founded Focus Collegiate, Grant Leibersberger adopted the Intentional Change Theory (ICT) as the novel way to engage college students.
Having studied experiential education and directed trailblazing young adult transition programs, he knew that students striving to enter a more independent phase of their life needed a more innovative, less prescriptive approach more in keeping with the self-determination college represents. While Intentional Change Theory has applications for organizational change and leadership development, it is the perfect solution for young adults because of its relationship focus.
In this episode, we delve further into the neuroscience behind ICT, discuss positive emotional attractors and negative emotional attractors, and the importance of finding the balance between the two.
Episode 3: Exploring Intentional Change Theory
About this episode:
Thu, 29 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400 ◦ 13 minutes
This week on College UnBound we explore Intentional change theory. Initially developed by the Professor of Organizational Behavior, Psychology, and Cognitive Science at Case Western Reserve University, Richard Boyatzis, intentional change theory is the evidence-based, cyclical process we use with our students to create lasting positive change.
Episode 2: Getting Student Buy-In
About this episode:
Wed, 21 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400 ◦ 16 minutes
In our previous podcast, we discussed resonant relationships. Today we’ll delve into how Focus Collegiate inspires student engagement and collaboration. College can be a tricky time for anyone. Students can easily lose their direction and fall behind. How does the Focus Collegiate Team encourage students to get onboard with their own success? We have talked about acknowledging and capitalizing on a student’s strengths, what do you do to help students develop lagging areas? How does Focus Collegiate keep students accountable to their goals? How does Focus Collegiate keep parents accountable to their student’s goals?
Episode 1: Welcome to College UnBound
About this episode:
Wed, 14 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0400 ◦ 25 minutes
Focus Collegiate was started to fill a gap in the higher education system. While high school students who learn differently are supported with IEPs and 504 learning plans, college students who learn differently are not. They are expected to fend for themselves, to find and ask for their own accommodations, to make and follow through with their own schedules, and just figure it all out. This is where Focus Collegiate come in.
We’re here today with Focus Collegiate founder, Grant Leibersberger to talk about how Focus Collegiate makes a difference for diverse learners in college.