Oakland University is rocking the misnomers with a program called OPTIONS for students who have surpassed the K-12 education system but cannot meet college admissions requirements because of cognitive disabilities. While the program itself is certainly beneficial, the university is undermining the objective of the program, to “hone social and intellectual skills during the three-year program, better equipping them for employment and independent living,” by refusing to allow students with disabilities to live in the dormitories.

Housing shortage or not, if the program aims at developing interpersonal ability and autonomy, it requires a form of housing with limited supervision and financial responsibility attached. And what could be more beneficial for developing social skills and transitioning to independent living than a dorm setting?

The Detroit News reports:

Fialka-Feldman has a mild cognitive disability that hinders his ability to read and write. But through a special program called OPTIONS, Fialka-Feldman has been sitting in on regular college courses, volunteering on campus and participating in many activities and clubs. He's been in the OPTIONS program for a year, but previously attended OU classes through another program.

He has a student ID and pays program fees for his classes that equal the cost of tuition. He dons an Oakland University sweatshirt and considers himself a student.
But Oakland University does not.

Campus dormitories are reserved for students formally admitted to the university, taking at least eight credits and seeking a degree. Fialka-Feldman and the eight other students in the OPTIONS program don't meet that threshold, said Mary Beth Snyder, vice president for student affairs at the university.

 

"The fact that they are not Oakland University students is the basic reason we've said no," Snyder said.

Those enrolled in OPTIONS are learning, paying the same tuition, and involved in campus extracurriculars, so how are they not Oakland University students? Snyder can try all she wants to act as though the definition of a student is static and predetermined, but in reality, the definition is one that the school formulates.

The school identifies a students as one taking eight credits and seeking a degree. The school identifies those eligible for housing as these 8-credit degree seekers. And the school can change these policies if they want to make OPTIONS a successful program.