Ramapo College’s ENHANCE Program

By Ariana Rivera ’18 |  Fall 2024

The ENHANCE program is a therapeutic support program that takes a holistic approach and focuses on social, emotional and organizational growth to assist autistic students in adapting and flourishing in college. Launched in 2018, the program tailors its support to each student’s needs. Right from the start, the ENHANCE program assists each student with their transition to college. Before a student in the program starts at Ramapo College, they participate in an ENHANCE orientation. This includes presentations, introductions to various campus offices and classroom tours. The orientation is designed to help the student become more familiar and comfortable with the college’s campus and resources.

Once enrolled, each student meets with their ENHANCE counselor weekly and engages with their peer mentors twice a week. This individualized approach provides crucial support where the student needs it most. Additionally, there are three weekly group meetings, ranging from social events that can assist a student in making friends, navigating campus and becoming more involved to academic workshops, which can help with time management, study strategies and executive functioning. Off-campus social events enrich the student experience and foster meaningful connections throughout the year, such as a Dave and Buster’s night hosted by the ENHANCE program. Suzanne Calgi, the program’s assistant director, mentioned one of her favorite memories was a karaoke night in which Calgi remembers “being wowed” by the students’ hidden talents. By continually refining support services and adapting to new challenges, the ENHANCE program ensures that every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Peer mentors are highly involved in the ENHANCE program, and by participating as mentors, many graduate and undergraduate students fulfill their fieldwork hours, which is required for social work, psychology and sociology majors. Lauren Barca ’23 was a peer mentor who did just that. When reflecting on her experience, Barca stated, “Each student has their views about what it means to have autism, what they are comfortable with and what they’ve experienced.” Within the program, it’s often said that “once you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.”

ENHANCE peer mentors are trained to assist students in making a positive transition to college life, self-advocacy and efforts towards independence.

This motto rings true for peer mentors and emphasizes the need for the ENHANCE program’s individualized approach. “When meeting with their peer mentors, students can choose to do whatever they’d like, ranging from playing a game at J. Lee’s, studying in the library or just taking a walk and talking,” said Barca. Each student can connect in a way that benefits them, reflecting the program’s flexible support structure.

Kyle Desuza ’26, a student in the ENHANCE program, noted, “One way ENHANCE helps [me to] organize my assignments is to mark them in highlighted priority colors so when I look in my planner, I check the color and see which ones I can handle immediately.” Additionally, through ENHANCE he can connect with students similar to him and learn more about autism. “Autism comes in many forms, and everyone handles it differently,” Desuza said. “ENHANCE is a great blessing.”

The ENHANCE program sets a standard of excellence in higher education accessibility, as supported by Ramapo’s distinction as 24th in the country and first in New Jersey on Great Value College’s Best Disability Friendly Schools for its “top-notch disability services that allow their students to succeed.” The ENHANCE program celebrates and supports differences and empowers every student to reach their full potential. To learn more about ENHANCE, visit ramapo.edu/enhance.