College to Career (C2C) Program

The College to Career (C2C) program at the College of Alameda is housed within the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) department. C2C is a three-year program for students with intellectual disabilities who are consumers of the California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).

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Why C2C?

Students with intellectual disabilities with postsecondary experiences are twenty-six (26) times more likely to be successfully employed and earn seventy-three (73) percent higher wages than their peers without postsecondary education.

The College of Alameda C2C program offers:

Career exploration activities
Job skills classes
Independent living skills courses
Academic/study skills support to successfully complete classes

The opportunity to take classes in a variety of areas, earn available certificates, and gain skills/knowledge to prepare for work.

Program Overview

The C2C program’s goals are to:

Improve employment outcomes for persons with intellectual disability (ID) and/or Autism
Expand the range of jobs available to persons with ID, with emphasis on areas of job growth

The C2C program provides a coordinated set of activities to support student success in a college setting and successful transition into independent competitive employment.

C2C is funded by the Department of Rehabilitation, and includes two major components:

Classes: Students take C2C classes as a cohort during the first phase of the program. In the second phase, they take general college classes aligned with their career goal. Educational coaches are available to connect students to needed resources and social activities and to assist in navigating successful completion of their coursework.
Employment Activities: Students take career exploration classes during the first program phase, followed by internships and job placement in the third phase. While in the third phase, students also work with a vocational coach and participate in weekly job club meetings to support their transition into employment (including job search assistance, mock interviewing, resume writing, etc.).

C2C is not affiliated with K-12 Special Education services or governed by the IEP process and does not take the place of, or serve as, a transition age program. Students or families interested in and/or eligible for 18-22 transition services should contact their local school district.

Eligibility Requirements

C2C APPLICANTS MUST BE:

1. At least 18 years of age at the time of enrollment

2. An individual with an intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism, as defined by the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)

3. A California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) client or eligible to become a DOR client

4. Graduated with a high-school diploma; or
a. Exited from high school transition program; or
b. Be willing to immediately exit from their transition program

5. Able to provide or access transportation to and from College of Alameda, as well as potential work sites in various counties

6. Able to attend classes, job, and other program-related activities regularly

7. Able to abide by College of Alameda’s Code of Conduct

8. Pass a criminal background check and have up-to-date immunizations required for employment

9. If currently (or formerly) a student in the Peralta Community College District (Alameda, Berkeley City College, Laney, Merritt), applicants must not have any fee holds or other records that would prevent enrolling in classes

Preferred Qualifications

**Students most qualified to participate in C2C have:**

Motivation to work and attend college.
A desire to obtain permanent, paid employment.
The ability to function on a college campus independently and attend class independently.
A history of meeting behavioral and attendance expectations of past employment, training, or educational programs.
A commitment to spending time, on average 25 hours per week, devoted to school-related activities, such as:
- Classes;
- Homework;
- Accessing support services (tutoring, counseling, etc.); and
- Mandatory meetings with C2C program staff.

Application Instructions and Timeline

Application Instructions

To apply for the College to Career (C2C) Program, you must complete and submit an application through our online system. The online application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot begin an application, save it, and come back to it at a later time. Please review your responses before submitting.

We do not recommend that you wait to hear from C2C about if you have been accepted to the program, before starting your steps with the Department of Rehabilitation or with College of Alameda. Even if you are not accepted into C2C, the Department of Rehabilitation may support you in exploring and preparing for the world of work.

Application Tips

In your application, we will ask you to:

Talk about why you want to be a College to Career (C2C) student.
Find three (3) people – NOT related to you – to write letters of recommendations on your behalf.
Have some idea of what you want to learn or the type of job you are looking for. Some people are very specific, and they want to learn one thing. Other people just want to have the experience of going to work. Be honest – we appreciate honesty and it will help us figure out the right options with you.
Think about your disability and personality. What will you need during college to have a good experience?

Applicant Responsibilities

Applicants to College to Career (C2C) program agree to abide by certain rules and requirements. Responsibility, respect, good judgment, and cooperation are qualities valued by the program. Applicants (and supports) are expected to demonstrate these qualities beginning with the application process.

Professional Behavior

Applicants are expected to properly follow instructions and meet deadlines.
Applicants are expected to act professionally in all of their dealings with C2C and the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR).

Ethical Conduct

Applicants applying to our program must consider these fundamental ethical principles during the application process, in accordance with the College of Alameda’s Student Code of Conduct:

Your application must be an honest representation of yourself. Please be mindful of accuracy in descriptions in your: (1) personal statements and (2) answers to questions.
Your application materials should be as current as possible at the time of submission. Please make sure to provide the most up-to-date documents and other supplementary materials when you submit your application.

Additional Applicant Responsibilities

Act with honesty and integrity throughout the admissions process.
Communicate professionally and promptly to C2C & DOR program(s).
Be responsible and accountable for actions.
Review and meet ALL admissions eligibility before applying.
Abide by all deadlines.
Create only one (1) C2C application during the admissions cycle.
Enter accurate information into the application.
Print a copy of the completed application for your records before submitting it to the C2C program.
Keep a copy of all submitted materials for your records.

Apply Now

The C2C Program is now accepting online applications. The program practices rolling admissions, which means applications can be submitted for review after the priority deadline of February 1, 2024. Remember: Admission spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Do not submit duplicate applications – only send one (1) application. We only accept up to twenty (20) new students per year.
Students enrolled in the C2C Program CANNOT co-enroll in another program, such as a transition age or supported employment program. No exceptions.
If you need the application in an alternative format, please e-mail: CollegetoCareer@peralta.edu

Click here for the online application.

Give to C2C

The Peralta Colleges Foundation manages donations to the College of Alameda. For check donations, please be sure to designate your gift in the memo to CoA College to Career (C2C) program. Please mail to: Peralta Colleges Foundation 333 East 8th Street, Oakland, CA 94606. If not specifically designated for C2C, your gift will go to the Peralta Colleges General Fund.

C2C In The News

Contact Us

College to Career (C2C) Program, CollegetoCareer@peralta.edu

Jennifer Sanoh, C2C Coordinator/Counselor jsanoh@peralta.edu

Laura Spencer Vacca, C2C Job Developer lspencervacca@peralta.edu

Beth Rudolf, C2C Instructor brudolf@peralta.edu