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SASS Elevate Program

Fall 2026 applications for Elevate Tier 1 are now open. The Preferred Application Deadline is March 1. 

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Customized Academic Support | Structured Study | Targeted Skill Enhancement | Family Engagement Elevate: Fee-Based Services to Enhance Support

Elevate, our fee-based program, goes above and beyond standard accommodations to provide additional support for students with documented disabilities. 

From Tier 1 to Tier 3, Elevate grows with you. This all-inclusive program is designed around the academic journey our students experience: from needing more support in their first year of college to developing greater independence as sophomores, juniors, and seniors.   

Elevate Your Academic Experience

Explore the benefits of three tiers that match your class year.

Tier 1 — For first-year and transfer students

Cost: $9,000/semester ($4,500/semester)

Limited to 40 spots for first-year and transfer students with fewer than 32 credits. Due to the limited capacity of Tier 1, spots are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Tier 1 Includes:

  • Weekly private meetings with assigned academic counselor: 2 hours/week
  • Weekly private meetings with SASS graduate assistant: up to 1 hour/week
  • Skill Sets: Select two
  • Annual parent/guardian update: maximum 1 hour 
  • Access to applicable SASS accommodations
  • Priority course registration
  • Use of SASS Office assistive technology and computer lab (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and extended evening hours)
  • Available support from SASS mental health counselor
  • Special parent activities
  • SASS Resources Guide
  • Academic counselor outreach to student's professors each semester
  • Enhanced individual tutoring in the STEM Center
  • Unlimited appointments in the Writing Center
  • Priority Step Ahead registration (25 spots available for Elevate students)
  • Early move-in to residence halls
  • Priority registration for Wellness Extended Support Program (WESP) in Wellness Center
  • SASS transition support during McDaniel Local and Orientation
  • Pre-semester meeting to support a strong start
  • Mid-term family check-in by email

Interested in opportunities beyond Tier 1? Add on:

  • Step Ahead (priority registration with Tier 1, up to 25 spots)
    Cost: $550
  • SASS Worldwide 
    Cost: Variable
  • Wellness Extended Support Program (priority registration with Tier 1, up to 10 spots)
    Cost: $1800/semester
  • Academic Counseling for January Term
    Cost: $420
  • Academic Counseling for Summer Term
    Cost: $730

Tier 2 — Best for: Sophomores

Cost: $7,400/academic year ($3,700/semester)

Includes:

  • Weekly private meetings with assigned academic counselor: 1 hour/week
  • Weekly private meetings with SASS graduate assistant: up to 1 hour/week
  • Skill Sets: Select one 
  • Annual parent/guardian update: maximum 30 minutes 
  • Access to applicable SASS accommodations 
  • Priority course registration 
  • Use of SASS Office assistive technology and computer lab (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and extended evening hours) 
  • Available support from SASS mental health counselor 
  • Special parent activities 
  • SASS Resources Guide 
  • Academic Counselor outreach to student's professors each semester
  • Enhanced individual tutoring in the STEM Center 
  • Unlimited appointments in the Writing Center 

Interested in opportunities beyond Tier 2? Add on:  

Tier 3 — Best for: Juniors, Seniors

Cost: $6,200/academic year ($3,100/semester)

  • Weekly private meetings with assigned academic counselor: 1 hour/week
  • Weekly private meetings with SASS graduate assistant: up to 1 hour/week
  • Skill Sets: add on for an additional fee 
  • Annual parent/guardian update via email
  • Access to applicable SASS accommodations 
  • Priority course registration 
  • Use of SASS Office assistive technology and computer lab (8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and extended evening hours) 
  • Available support from SASS mental health counselor 
  • Special parent activities 
  • SASS Resources Guide  

Interested in opportunities beyond Tier 3? Add on:  

Elevate Tiers Visual representation
Graduate assistant working with student.

Level Up Your Skills Elevate Skill Sets

Elevate Skill Sets help you level up your skills and thrive in three key areas for success in school and in life.

  • Elevate Connections: Social and Communication Skills
  • Elevate Studies: Enhanced Academic Support Skills
  • Elevate Habits: Executive Functioning Skills
Learn more about the Elevate Skill Sets

Apply to Elevate: What You Need to Know 

After you have submitted your application to McDaniel and received notification of acceptance, you can begin the process of registering for accommodations at McDaniel and applying to Elevate and other fee-based programs. Elevate provides comprehensive support, so spaces are limited. Spots are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, determined by the date of receipt of your $250 Elevate program deposit.

Fall 2026 Important Dates

  • March 1: Elevate application Preferred Deadline 
  • March 1 - April 15: Interviews scheduled 
  • May 1: Deposit deadline for students enrolling at McDaniel 

What do I need to provide on the application? 

A complete Elevate application includes:  

  • Elevate application form (to be completed by the applicant)
  • Documentation of Disability (current and comprehensive)  to be emailed directly to elevate@mcdaniel.edu.
  • Initiate the Professional Support request by completing the Professional Support Overview Request Form
    • Upon submitting the Professional Support Request form an email will sent to the professional/provider you submitted with an encrypted link to the Professional Support Provider Form. This form must be submitted by a professional/provider currently working directly with the applicant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to notify the designated provider that they will be receiving an email with a link to the Professional Support Provider Form. The form includes a thorough assessment of the applicant's academic, behavioral, and social performance. Appropriate providers may include a special educator, learning specialist, executive functioning coach, therapist, medical provider, or another professional who routinely interacts with the applicant. Note: Any letters of recommendation submitted with your application for admission to McDaniel College will not meet this requirement.
  • Written Statement (no more than 250 words, to be completed by the applicant)  
    • All applicants are asked to respond to the following prompt: “Please describe how you believe Elevate will help you be successful at McDaniel.”  

About the Interview Process

After submitting your completed Elevate application (including all required documentation, the Professional Support Provider Form, and your written statement), you will receive an email with a link to schedule your interview. 

Interviews are conducted in person at McDaniel College's Westminster, MD campus with a professional staff member from the SASS office. Interviews are approximately 25 minutes in length, and when appropriate, include a parent/guardian. The goal of the interview is to identify if the services provided through the Elevate program meet the needs of each student while learning about the student behind the application. There is no need to formally prepare; think about this interview as a conversation designed to help our SASS team understand your support needs. 

What is Elevate?

Elevate is a fee-based program offering tiered support for students with documented disabilities.

Does Elevate replace basic accommodations?

No, Elevate and other fee-based programs do not affect the accommodations that you are approved to receive from SASS. The program is in addition to your accommodations, providing services like weekly academic counseling and other benefits.

What are the different tiers of Elevate?

Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 offer varying levels of support based on student needs and academic year. 

What is included in Tier 1 of Elevate?

Tier 1 includes weekly meetings with counselors, Skill Sets, and priority registration for WESP and Step Ahead. 

How do I apply for Elevate?

Because there are limited spaces available in Elevate, submit the Elevate application form (opens in January), documentation of disability, Professional Support Overview Form, and a written statement before the deadline. You will then also complete an intake interview process.

Are transfer students eligible for Tier 1?

Yes, Tier 1 is available to first-year and transfer students. 

How do I reserve my spot in Tier 1?

Upon notification of your acceptance, a $250 Elevate deposit will be required to reserve your spot. Because these spots are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, we recommend submitting your application and scheduling your interview as early as possible. 

Your $250 Elevate deposit cannot be submitted until you have officially accepted your offer of admission to McDaniel and submitted your $500 enrollment deposit. The final deadline for both deposits is May 1, the national deposit deadline, but there are no guarantees that spaces will be available in Tier 1 on that date. 

What are the deadlines for Elevate applications?

Applications open Jan. 16 and are due March 1. Interviews are scheduled March 1–April 15. 

Do I need to apply for Elevate every semester that I would like services?

You only need to apply to Elevate once. Once you are accepted and participate in one tier, you have priority access to advance to the next tier. 

How do I choose a tier?

Tiers 1, 2, and 3 of Elevate are designed to align with your class year. Tier 1 is exclusively for incoming first-year students and transfer students with up to 32 credits, Tier 2 is for sophomores, and Tier 3 is ideal for juniors and seniors. If you are not sure which level of service would be the best fit, you may want to discuss it with SASS staff at your intake appointment.

How much does Elevate Cost?

Costs for the Fall 2026 academic year:

Tier 1: $9,000/semester ($4,500/semester)

Tier 2: Cost: $7,400/academic year ($3,700/semester)

Tier 3: Cost: $6,200/academic year ($3,100/semester)

Are there scholarships or grants available for Elevate?

There are a limited number of scholarships available for Elevate.

Can transfer students participate in Elevate?

Yes, transfer students can participate in Elevate. Their tier level will be determined based on their credits.

Can students switch tiers during their time at McDaniel?

Elevate is designed for students to move from Tier 1 to Tier 3 as they progress through their college journey. 

Is Elevate available during summer or January Term?

Elevate is limited to the spring and fall semesters. However, SASS offers summer and January Term academic counseling for any registered students for a separate fee. 

Are Elevate services available to students not registered with SASS?

Elevate is exclusive to students registered with SASS. 

What happens if a student doesn’t get accepted into Tier 1?

There are multiple reasons why a student may not be admitted to Tier 1. 

  • In some cases, a student is denied because the Elevate Program may not be sufficient to meet their needs. In this case, the SASS office will work with each family on an individual basis to discuss enrollment at McDaniel without the support of the Elevate Program. In these cases, the SASS office may recommend a gap year with participation in McDaniel's Summer College Readiness Program prior to enrollment, enrollment at a community college before transferring to McDaniel, or additional skills development before enrolling at McDaniel. It is up to each student and their family to determine if they would like to enroll without admission to the Elevate Program.
  • The limited capacity of the program means that not every eligible student can be admitted. In this case, the student will still have access to applicable accommodations and be able to participate and benefit from SASS services. They will also have opportunities to register for Step Ahead, Skills Sets, and SASS Worldwide. They can also re-apply for other Elevate Tiers.

Can I join Elevate mid-semester?

We highly encourage students to apply in advance of a semester, because spaces are limited. Access after a semester has begun may be determined on a case-by-case basis and by availability. 

Still Have Questions?

Request Info about the Elevate Program
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