Inclusive access to education is a priority at Coastal Carolina University, and the University’s LIFE program has opened many doors to make attending college possible for an important sector of the population. 

 Housed within the Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences, CCU’s LIFE program is a non-degree, four-year, residential collegiate experience for young adults with mild to moderate intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. At the conclusion of the certificate program, the goal is for the students to be able to live independently and secure employment. Students in the program receive support with academic instruction, career education and training, life skills, and social and community engagement. LIFE students have access to opportunities offered to other CCU students, such as participation in CCU courses, on-campus housing, student organizations, sporting events, work study, and commencement.

The LIFE program was born in 2009 with grant funds raised by a group of like-minded parents looking to start programs for their children at South Carolina colleges and universities. CarolinaLIFE at the University of South Carolina was the first program founded, and CCU’s LIFE program was the second, with Clemson following soon behind. CCU’s program began with four students. 

Cheryl Morgan, Ph.D., director of CCU’s LIFE program, joined the University in November 2015, when the program had 16 students. Morgan spent a year observing the program to see how the program functioned and what her students needed. At that time, there were very few LIFE courses, and special education faculty were providing reading and math instruction. 

Morgan’s doctorate program in special education focused on administration and policy with a research focus on post-secondary education. During her doctoral program, she helped develop a post-secondary education program at the University of Florida, and, prior to the defense of her dissertation, she accepted a position as the director of a postsecondary education program at the University of North Florida.

Morgan said what she brought with her to CCU was “a knowledge of what works, and what doesn’t work, in inclusive postsecondary education. I love what I’m doing, and I am never bored. Every year when we walk into the program, we have different students with different needs, and we adapt.”

The Spring 2023 graduating class was the largest to date, with 12 students participating in commencement. The program welcomed 17 freshmen in Fall 2023.

According to Morgan, there are approximately 300 such post-secondary education programs in the U.S., but CCU’s LIFE program is one of 12 that is housed in a public university with a four-year program that offers financial aid and on-

campus housing. She shared that in-state students receive a $10,000 scholarship regardless of need, and need-based grants between $7,500 and $10,000 are awarded annually. The Horry County Higher Education Commission provides scholarship support for LIFE Program students who have finished high school in Horry County.

The LIFE program receives applicants from all over the United States. The first cohort was all from S.C., but the program is now comprised of about half in-state and half out-of-state students, with applicants coming from Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Texas, Michigan, Illinois, and beyond. 

LIFE program students live on campus in four suites and six apartments, with 13 residential supports who assist with individual student needs. Freshman students live in Ingle Hall and upperclassmen live in University Place in four-bedroom, four-bathroom apartments. There were some students living in off-campus housing for the first time in 2023, assessed by staff for independent living skills and with parent permission.

Students take two academic courses each semester, with life skills courses in-house each semester throughout their four years at CCU. 

“Students are learning how to manage an apartment, cook meals, manage a budget, use public transportation, and to manage their time,” Morgan said. “This past year, we added a cooking lab, so three hours a week, students are in the kitchen learning hands-on cooking skills: measurement, how to grocery shop. In the fall semester, they were making meals, and, in spring semester, they learned about baking.”

Brian Keys, assistant director of CCU’s LIFE program, said the students can explore a variety of academic options. “We provide guidance for our students during class registration, and our students really can take almost any course that’s offered. We do try to get them to take classes that fit with their career plans, but occasionally they take a course just because they’re interested and it is a topic that they like.”

Keys joined the staff in 2018 and helped develop the career portion of the program, teaching students the skills they need to get a job and providing experiential learning by taking students to job fairs and setting them up with job tryouts so they can experience a variety of occupations. 

(Above) LIFE students can explore a variety of academic options at the University. (Below) Some of the Spring 2023 LIFE program graduates pose with LIFE faculty and staff. 

A full-time internship program for seniors started in 2019. It began at Conway Medical Center and has grown to include Doubletree Resorts by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront.

“Our senior students participate in 30-hour-a-week internships, getting 900 hours of work experience during their senior year,” said Keys. “They have an instructor who teaches workplace jobs skills that they need, and two skills trainers, one at each site, who really develop those skills and assist in any areas where the students may struggle.” 

Students rotate through two or three jobs throughout the year and work with employee mentors at the job sites. Several have been employed at their work sites after graduation, and others have brought their skills back to their home states and were able to find jobs in similar fields. 

Melinda Hayes-Ramsey, internship instructor for the LIFE program at both Conway Medical Center and DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, has enjoyed watching the students grow in their skills during the academic year. 

“I instruct on everything from self-advocacy to conflict resolution to who to call if they’re running late for work,” Hayes-Ramsey said. “The kids love it.”

Jan McCormick, general manager of DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Myrtle Beach Oceanfront, has been thrilled with the partnership with CCU’s LIFE program.

“Attitudes are outstanding,” he said. “Some of them have tougher jobs than others. Everyone on our team has embraced them. At the end of the day, it’s people helping people.”

According to Hayes-Ramsey, during the last three years, 100% of CCU’s LIFE graduates have secured jobs within six to nine months of graduation.

Whitney Beaty ’23, of Murrells Inlet, S.C., works in the kitchen, front of house, and back of house at DoubleTree Myrtle Beach Oceanfront Resort. She was an intern at the resort during the 2022-2023 academic year and has transitioned into regular employment. Her favorite part of her job is “getting to know the people. They’re really nice.”

Beaty typically works three days a week at the resort. Her duties include stocking the kitchen shelves, serving food, and helping to keep the buffet fully stocked. She often assists with making sandwiches in the staff cafeteria as well. 

“I like when we’re busy,” said Beaty. “It makes the day go by fast.”

Hospitality classes were among Beaty’s favorite, and she also enjoyed the life skills class offered through the program.

“They teach you everything,” she said. “We learned to manage our money, we looked up places where we want to live, we learned about cooking.”

Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with family and going to the beach. While at CCU, she enjoyed attending football and baseball games. She is still in touch with a lot of her friends from the LIFE program. Beaty graduated in May and said the day was “emotional, but I was excited. It’s never easy going to college. It was pretty hard, but I got through it.” 

Matt Abernathy ’23 grew up around Charlotte, N.C., but often vacationed in the Myrtle Beach area. He works five days a week as a groundskeeper at the resort, where he helps to clean the property and pier and maintain the mini golf course.

“Working with my coworkers is the most fun,” he said. “It’s nice to be outside.”

Abernathy enjoyed taking exercise and sport science courses, playing kickball, and attending athletic events on campus. In his spare time, he likes going to the gym and the beach, spending time with friends, and playing golf.

Darren Barnhart ’23, from Aiken, S.C., collects and washes linens at the resort. He took classes in political science and exercise and sport science and also played club quad ball and kickball. When he’s not working, he enjoys exercising and going to the beach and pool.

One of the most important things Barnhart learned in the LIFE program was how to pay rent. He and Abernathy are roommates and have lived on their own for the past two years.

“During the past few years, we’ve had more and more alumni starting to live independently, away from mom and dad,” Keys said. 

He noted that the support of the CCU student body, faculty, staff, and administration is vital to the success of the program. Many undergraduates serve as peer tutors in various capacities, from classroom support to accompanying them to the dining halls to going to athletic events together. There are a lot of opportunities for special education undergraduates to work with LIFE students as well. The full college experience that LIFE students receive helps prepare them for their futures. 

Keys said, “We are preparing them for life after graduation so they can live a fulfilling, independent adult life.”