Q: What is the StepUP Program?
The StepUP Program is an Augsburg College program for men and women in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs who are pursuing a college education. The StepUP Program concurrently supports Augsburg students in their academic studies and their recovery.
Q: What specific services are provided to students enrolled in the StepUP Program?
Q: What are the requirements for enrolling in the StepUP Program?
Q: What are the requirements for admission to Augsburg College?
To be directly admitted to the College, applicants are required to fall above the 50th percentile of their high-school graduating class with a minimum GPA of 2.5 or receive a score of 70 or higher on each section of the GED. An ACT score must be 22 or higher. A combined score of 1000 or greater is required for the SAT. If there is personal information that may have affected the applicant’s previous academic performance, it may be included with the application for admission.
Q: What are the college costs for students in the StepUP Program?
The College does not charge students any extra for being in the StepUP Program. Students in the StepUP Program are responsible for the same tuition, activity fees and room and board costs required of all students. The 2007-2008 total annual cost for tuition, fees, and room and board is $31,441. Books are estimated at $125 per course. Students in the StepUP Program are eligible for the same need and merit based financial aid available to all students at Augsburg College. There is no financial assistance dedicated exclusively to students in the StepUP Program at this time.
Q: Once a student is accepted into the StepUP Program, must they stay in the program and college housing until he/she graduates?
While we would love to keep students in the StepUP Program until graduation, we realize the transition need of individual students. The StepUP Program is a voluntary program for students in recovery looking for support as they transition into the wider community. Many students have chosen to participate in the program for one or two years and then live elsewhere as they finish their degrees. Many indicate they want to stay in the program until they graduate. In a few cases, students have transferred to other colleges once they felt ready to leave the StepUP Program. Students are required to live in StepUP Program housing (Oren Gateway Center), as it is an integral part of the StepUP Program concept.
Q: When and how did the StepUP Program begin?
The program began in September of 1997 and is now in its sixth year. It came about as a result of the number of students in recovery who were enrolling at Augsburg College and asking for academic skills counseling. Realizing that Augsburg had no sober living environment or formal support program for students in recovery, a proposal was created for the StepUP Program. It was approved by the President’s Council and the StepUP Program began its first year with 25 students enrolled.
Q: How many students are currently enrolled?
The StepUP Program currently has 60 enrollees. The program has room for a total of 65 enrollees, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Approximately 30 additional StepUP Program alumni remain in close contact and in good standing with the StepUP Program.
Q: Has the StepUP Program been successful?
The StepUP Program has been successful in supporting its students in their academic studies and in their recovery. The current mean cumulative grade-point average of the StepUP Program students is 2.87. The overall relapse rate is 16%. Owing to its successes, the StepUP Program has entered a friendship with Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, allowing the StepUP Program to benefit from consultations and direct servicing of the StepUP Program students. The Hazelden Butler Research Center completed a formal evaluation of the StepUP Program.
Q: How does the StepUP Program differ from a treatment program or halfway house?
The StepUP Program is not a treatment program but a recovery based student support program. It does, however, provide structure for the students enrolled. StepUP Program students are required to attend AA, weekly meetings with a licensed counselor to discuss issues relating to recovery. The StepUP Program contract also requires that each student attend classes regularly, be responsible for attending weekly floor meetings, keep the community areas clean, and refrain from vandalism, theft, harassment of others, and, most importantly, using. Unlike treatment, however, there is no curfew and there is little monitoring of the student’s daily activities.
Q: Who are the staff of The StepUP Program?
Patrice Salmeri, Director
Patrice’s twenty year professional career has been solely focused on young people and their families. She has held positions
as a college instructor and a coach, as well as a treatment center clinician, supervisor, and Associate Clinical Director. Patrice
holds a Master’s degree in Human Development, a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education and is a Minnesota
Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She views her vocation as helping people become who they were created to be. Her
commitment to nurturing the resilience of young people has led her to Augsburg’s StepUP Program.
David Hadden, Assistant Director
David has worked with youth over the course of thirty years in education, corrections and treatment. He is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and a Minnesota Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, with majors in School and Community Health, an MA in School Health and Post Graduate Certification in Drug and Alcohol Counseling. David’s passions lie in the areas of education and recovery and preparing young people for the world of work.
Eileen Mitchell, Chemical Dependency Counselor
Eileen joined the StepUP Program staff in 2005 after graduating from the Hazelden Graduate School of Addiction Studies. She has a passion for working with the college population as they experience the transition into sober adulthood. Eileen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Northern Illinois University. She has previously worked in the banking and travel industries. Eileen is married and has two daughters and an adorable black lab, Monty. Besides working in recovery her interests include music and travel.
Kathy Fagen, Administrative Assistant
Kathy has been an employee of Augsburg College since 2001. She is a graduate of Augsburg with a degree in Communication Studies and Philosophy. Before joining the StepUP Program in March 2005, Kathy worked in Augsburg’s Weekend College Admissions office. In her free time, she enjoys time with her husband and three children, reading, hiking, and biking. Kathy is dedicated to helping students realize their potential through the transforming experience of education.
Q: To what extent do College administration, faculty and staff support the StepUP Program?
President’s Council and the Deans have solidly supported StepUP, offering encouragement and counsel. The Residence Life staff, which governs all of the residence halls, has worked closely with the StepUP Program so as to provide safe, comfortable housing, as well as leadership opportunities for StepUP Program students. Faculty frequently comment about what excellent students the StepUP people are. A history professor recently asked, Can you head more of them in my direction? I love having them in class. They WANT to learn!