IDEAL Program

Igniting the Dream of Education and Access at Lipscomb (IDEAL)

Empowering students with disabilities to grow into adults with opportunities.

Lipscomb University President Lowry talks about the IDEAL Program. Play Video

Lipscomb University IDEAL Program

Through innovative and creative solutions, we seek to meet the needs of all of our students to prepare them for lives filled with confidence, deep knowledge and faith. Our two-year IDEAL certificate program is uniquely designed for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities who want to receive the full Lipscomb experience to prepare for their future. IDEAL encourages and supports students enrolled in the program to experience all that our university has to offer, right alongside their peers. This includes taking classes, going to sporting and cultural events, completing internships, eating in the cafeteria, attending chapel and much more within the Lipscomb community.

Develop friendships, expand and deepen your knowledge, strengthen your skills through workplace training and receive increased independent opportunities that will prepare you for your next steps in life — personally, spiritually and professionally.

IDEAL mentors and students

Peer Mentors

As an essential component of the IDEAL program, you will have the opportunity to receive a peer mentor, a fellow Lipscomb student who will be there to accompany you to meals in the cafeteria, chapel services, the gym and any other day-to-day activities. He or she will also be there to help you with studying and organizing your course materials. You and your peer mentor will walk alongside each other through many aspects of your experience at Lipscomb, growing together in friendship. Volunteer peer mentors and IDEAL students are matched based on their expertise, interests and individual class schedules.

About Peer Mentors

The IDEAL program has been developed based on the Think College Standards and in consultation with other successful post-secondary programs. Learn More about the IDEAL Program.

About Our Program