Researching Collegiate Recovery Programs
Returning to college or transferring post-treatment, can feel overwhelming. In all fairness, the stakes are high and there are a lot of options. In addition to finding a school that will accept you and a potential checkered academic history without judgement, you also want to find the collegiate recovery community (CRC) or collegiate recovery program (CRP) that fits your non-academic needs. Like finding the right treatment program, you also want to do your due diligence in finding which collegiate program is best for you. Neither is a one-size-fits-all. You want to find the crew of degree-seeking individuals who still want to have sober fun on campus, and who are grateful for an opportunity to reengage on campus, and in life.
This may be a second or a seventh attempt at college. There is no judgement in that regard, as this time around you may truly be ready. We want to make sure you get connected to the institution that support you in all areas of wellness. In doing research on collegiate recovery programs, you may find that there are a lot of schools out there that boast a CRC or CRP. In fact, there’s even an organization called the Association for Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE). They host all the schools, yet it’s on the family and young adult to do the research in finding out which one is best for your specific needs! The best way to know what to do look for in a CRC or CRP is to ask the following questions while researching collegiate recovery:
When was the program founded?
What is the current number of students on campus? How many of those students are participants in your program?
How many of them are transfer students versus First-year Freshmen?
Is the recovery program open to both graduate and undergraduate students?
Does the program have a dedicated on-campus recovery residence? If yes, how many beds?
What off-campus sober living options you would recommend for transfer students?
Are there full-time, dedicated (licensed) Clinicians who work within your Collegiate Recovery Program only?
If yes, what are their caseloads?
What other university staff are involved in this program?
Who is the point person to guide us through the Admissions process?
What are the admissions requirements?
Is the Admissions process for this program separate from the official university Admissions department?
What documentation and information will we need to collect in order to apply to this institution?
What common hang-ups do you often see in the Admissions process for students trying to apply?
How will having a criminal record and/or felony conviction(s) impact the application or admission process?
How can we apply for Financial Aid? What is the likelihood we’ll receive aid?
Are there scholarships available specifically for students in recovery?
Are there additional fees or costs associated with this recovery program and/or residence?
Is there a minimum amount of sobriety needed prior to enrolling in your program?
Is the recovery program inclusive of students with process disorders and disordered eating diagnoses as well as substance use disorder?
How are students in this recovery program held accountable to their sobriety? (i.e. do you drug test students?)
What is the process if a student has a relapse?
Have students in recovery participated in Athletics at your school, and if so, can you describe the process to get involved?
Does this recovery program have an annual report on graduation data, abstinence rate, average GPA, etc.?
Who are the stakeholders involved in this collegiate recovery community?
On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being not great, 10 being thriving) how would you rank the young people’s recovery community within the college town?
Is this collegiate recovery program endowed? If not, has there been a history of budget decreases due to Administrators reallocating funds to other departments on campus?
What sober activities are offered weekly? Can you share an example schedule?
Is the recovery program specific to a recovery modality, such as 12-Step?
For someone coming from treatment, are there designated spaces on campus for meditation? Outdoor/adventure therapy?
How does this recovery program support students with co-occurring diagnoses?
Upon graduation, how do this program support alumni in recovery?
Are there other programs that you would recommend we research before applying to your institution?
This is a lot to ask. Better to ask now than to enroll and realize it’s not what you thought it would be! In this case, it may be helpful to hire a College Consultant. I would personally recommend a team who understands those glitches in higher education, or you can find a professional who has depth and knowledge of the law and admissions process for those who were suspended or expelled from former institutions. Having a professional on your side may make this researching process a little less daunting. Your recovery is very important, and your success in continued education is also important! It can feel like a full-time job to find the best between the two.
There will be recovery programs out there that will recommend sober living and specific CRC or CRPs. You can follow their advice by blindly trusting their recommendations, or you can do the research yourself to ensure that those recommendations are what’s best for you. You don’t want to regret where you enroll, as your engagement with the CRC or CRP can really be the make or break fanning the embers of your interest in post-secondary education. Bring it back to a roaring fire, but do that by connecting with professionals who can help you get to that best institution.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
