The Chronic Illness Initiative
			Letter from the Director CII Advisor Inside Track Meet and Greet Video - Fall 2007 (iTunes required) Distance Education Scholarship Awards CII Student Handbook Symposium Buddy Program SNL Application Send Page To a Friend Useful Links Joining the CII Graduate Program Advisor Donate to the Chronic Illness Initiative Join Our Email List

The Chronic Illness Initiative (CII) provides access to higher education for students who have chronic illness. Students who struggle with illnesses that unpredictably increase and decrease in severity such as asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis, or illnesses with frequent hospitalizations such as cancer or heart disease, may have found it difficult, if not impossible, to meet the requirements of a conventional college program.

At the School for New Learning, staff and faculty work every day with students who have complex lives. They are compassionate and committed to helping CII students achieve their educational goals.

The CII offers services to students with chronic illness so they may complete SNL requirements and earn a DePaul University degree. A chronic illness is one that typically involves waxing and waning symptoms that interfere with the student’s ability to physically engage successfully in a college program. Students with illnesses that can better be served by the PLuS program (for students with learning disabilities), or the Office of Students with Disabilities will be referred to those programs. Whether or not a student is appropriate for the CII program is based on a determination by CII program officials that the individual facts and circumstances fit the supports offered by the program. Contact Us


Please help the Chronic Illness Initiative. We need your help to continue offering our vitally important services to our students. Please consider making a donation online using our secure service. Donate Here, select the "Other" option and specify The Chronic Illness Initiative. Or make your check payable to: DePaul University Chronic Illness Initiative, and send your gift to: DePaul University, Office of Development, 1 East Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-2287

Thank you for your invaluable support.

- Buddy Program: New students are connected with a current SNL student who can answer questions, serve as a mentor and provide support.


- CII Student Handbook: This handbook describes the CII program in more detail and outlines program policies. (Microsoft Word required).


Other Program Features

- No Minimum Requirements: Students may take as many or as few courses as they can handle. There is no limit on the length of time to complete a degree. A student may also be inactive for a quarter or more if necessary. Note: Financial aid does have course load and time length requirements.

- Informed Faculty and Staff: Faculty and staff receive regular information about the CII and its policies.


- Access to all University services, including Financial Aid, Career Counseling and the Office of Students with Disabilities.


- Distance Education: CII students have the option to earn an undergraduate degree without ever visiting campus.


- Symposium: An annual Symposium on Chronic Illness and Postsecondary Education.


Symposium Information Flyer (Adobe Reader Required)

Sponsorship Opportunities (Adobe Reader Required)

Presentation Abstracts (Adobe Reader Required)

Continuing Education Information

Register for the Symposium

Exhibitor Registration for the Symposium


- Inside Track: This program is designed for students with chronic illness, ages 18-23, who are interested in earning a degree or who would like to explore the college experience within the supportive environment of the Chronic Illness Initiative. It allows students to participate fully in all aspects of the DePaul experience and share access to the same services. In addition, these students receive assistance to help their transition into a college environment, develop self-determination and self-advocacy skills, and acquire the abilities necessary to complete the degree program.

Inside Track includes Learning Assessment Seminar, LL 150 Academic Writing for Adults, LL 155 Critical Thinking, FA 363 Advocacy and Self Determination, and LL 250 Foundations of Adult Learning. All these courses apply to the degree.


To apply for the SNL program, please download and complete this application (Adobe Reader Required)

To join the CII, you must first be an SNL student or currently applying to SNL. There are three steps to sign up:

1. Send an email to CII@depaul.edu with the following information:

- Your name
- Preferred Email
- Address(es)
- Phone number(s)
- Student ID number
- Source via which you heard about the CII
- Nature of your illness(es)
- Any particular accommodations you believe you will need.
- A statement to the effect that you have read the term interruption policies of the CII in the CII Handbook and understand them.

2. Request that your medical professional send a letter to the CII confirming your illness and describing the symptoms for which you may need accommodations. The letter should be mailed to The Chronic Illness Initiative, School for New Learning, DePaul University, Suite 200, 25 E. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60604.

3. Complete and sign the HIPAA release form, and fax or email it to the CII advisor.

Please email CII@depaul.edu with any questions or comments you may have.

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Scholarships

Apply for the Chronic Illness Scholarship (one-time award of $500 - $1,500 for tuition-only assistance):

• If you have a disabling chronic illness,

• If you are enrolled (or are in the process of enrolling) in the School for New Learning

• If you have a sincere desire to continue your education

• If you have the capacity to do well in college

• If you demonstrate courage and character in your response to the challenge of ongoing disability.

• If you demonstrate financial need.
  

If granted an award, you must:

• Successfully complete Learning Assessment Seminar

• Be admitted to baccalaureate degree-seeking status.
  
  See also other Chronic Illness Scholarships (Microsoft Excel required)

Download Application Form (Microsoft Word required)

Useful Links
The following links may be of interest to students with chronic illness. Please be aware that we are unable to monitor these sites and are not responsible for their content. If you know of an organization that should be listed here please contact us at CII@depaul.edu.

National:
Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness, Inc
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Autoimmune Diseases Association
American Brain Tumor Association
American College Health Association
American Chronic Pain Association
American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.
American Psychiatric Association
Bi-Polar Alliance
Center for Assistive Technology, University of Buffalo
The CFIDS Association of America
Chemical Injury Information Network / Our Toxic Times
Children and Adolescent Bi-Polar Foundation
Conill Institute for Chronic Illness
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America
Depression and BiPolar Support Alliance
Environmental Illness Resource
Epilepsy Foundation
Faculty and Administrator Modules in Higher Education (FAME)
Human Ecology Action League, Inc.
International Myeloma Foundation
The Invisible Disabilities Advocate
Lyme Disease Foundation
Mental Health America
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)
National Dysautonomia Research Foundation
National Fibromyalgia Association
National Kidney Foundation
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
National Youth Leadership Network
Parents Helping Parents
Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorders (PANDORA)
The Pediatric Network
SleepyDust - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Information
Wilson's Disease Association International

Local:
American Diabetes Association/ Northern Illinois Area
Americans with Diabilities Act / Great Lakes
ARC of Illinois
The Arthritis Foundation, Greater Chicago Chapter
CFS, Fibro., Chem. Sens. Coalition of Chicago
Chronic Illness and Caregiver Support Group
Chronic Illness Coalition (Michigan)
Division of Specialized Care for Children, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
Illinois Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC)
Lupus Foundation of America, Illinois Chapter
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of Illinois, Inc. (MGFI)
NAMI of Greater Chicago
Obsessive Compulsive Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Disabilities
Wisconsin Kids - Wisconsin Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Association, Inc

Research:
Pro-Health Immunesupport.com

Resources
The Center For Community Research Project - DePaul University
Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their Families Resource Manual
Heath Financial Guide (Adobe Reader Required)
Society for Disability Studies - University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)



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