Beyond Access
Work Smarter,
Not Harder.
Beyond Access
Work Smarter, Not Harder.
Beyond Access at a Glance
- Individualized support exceeding standard college accommodations
- Weekly meetings with a Strategy Instructor
- Between 1-3 hours per week of support
- Progress toward goals in areas such as time management, academic skills, social engagement, career development, and more
- Available at all UConn campuses
- Fee-based program
Beyond Access Enrollment
What Is Beyond Access?
The Beyond Access Program offers individualized supports to help students bridge the gap between access and success. We recognize that students have a variety of strengths and difficulties, and we believe in meeting students wherever they are on their journey. We value all aspects of student life, and believe that academic, social, and career skills are all ingredients for a positive university experience. Our purpose is to support students in reaching the goals they identify in these and other areas over the course of a semester. Because the Beyond Access service exceeds standard accommodations at the college level, there is a fee associated with participation.
Beyond Access Includes
Weekly Meetings
Students attend weekly meetings with their assigned Strategy Instructor over the course of the semester. Students select from four tracks when enrolling to customize the number of meeting hours to fit their needs:
| Track | Meeting Hours |
|---|---|
| Track I | 1 hour per week |
| Flex Track I | 1.5 hours per week |
| Track II | 2 hours per week |
| Track III | 3 hours per week |
We strive to provide students with options for meeting modalities that are the best fit for them, including in-person and virtual. In-person meetings are always available to students at the Storrs campus and typically available to students at the Hartford and Stamford campuses; students based at the Waterbury and Avery Point campuses meet with Strategy Instructors virtually.
Personalized Goals
Beyond Access participants work with their Strategy Instructor to create up to three goals in areas of interest and need. Strategy Instructors develop individualized tools, strategies, and approaches to promote skill development, support well-being, and prepare for long-term success. Students are responsible for using the presented strategies outside of meetings.
Students elect to pursue goals in a variety of areas. In the 2023-2024 academic year, the most common types of student goals were related to academic achievement, executive functioning skills (e.g., time management and organization), and social engagement/social skills. We also support students in achieving goals related to health and wellness, career readiness, self-determination, and more.
Goal progress is monitored continuously, with formal assessments of progress and reflections with the student at the midpoint and end of the semester.
Building Connections and Holistic Support
Students develop strong bonds with their Strategy Instructors. While some students gain the skills they need after one semester participating in Beyond Access, others elect to stay through their whole UConn career. Goals shift over time as students build skills and priorities change, and Strategy Instructors will be there to help students prepare for internship searches, job interviews, and develop self-advocacy and communication skills needed after college.
Beyond Access participants receive a breadth of support: In just one Beyond Access meeting, a student might learn a new study strategy to use for their upcoming exam, break down and schedule their upcoming schoolwork, review current grades, talk through course selections for the upcoming semester, discuss plans to attend a club, and check in about sticking to a workout schedule.