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McDaniel expands offerings provided by nationally recognized Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS)

McDaniel’s Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS), a national leader in working with students with documented disabilities, expands offerings to enhance support available to students within the program. This includes the addition of a mental health counselor embedded within the program and other exclusive opportunities just for SASS students beginning in fall 2024.

Graduate assistant working with student.

Graduate Assistant Maggie Miller assists student Mason White.

Recognized as a national leader in providing support to students with documented disabilities, Student Accessibility and Support Services (SASS) announces the expansion of its service offerings for McDaniel College students within the program.

Beginning in fall 2024, SASS is adding a licensed mental health counselor to the program, which aligns with the college’s commitment of supporting students across the eight dimensions of wellness – intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, physical, and occupational. The counselor will provide dedicated mental health support, including assistance with group social skills development, and will be embedded within SASS to provide on-the-ground support exclusively for SASS students, while still being a member of the Wellness Center staff. The Wellness Center will also continue to provide the Wellness Extended Support Program (WESP) for long-term, ongoing counseling services.

“While the college’s Wellness Center will continue to offer services for all McDaniel students, I believe that having a counselor who will only be available to students in the SASS program will allow for more personalized support to suit the individual needs of each of our unique students,” said Melanie Conley, director of SASS.

SASS is also providing other exclusive opportunities just for SASS students. This includes increasing academic tutoring services, specifically through the college’s Writing Center and STEM Center, with special hours and appointments available for SASS students. Additionally, all students enrolled in SASS will have access to monthly Study Skills workshops that provide further support and guidance with academics, time management, organizational skills, and self-advocacy techniques.

McDaniel’s Student Accessibility and Support Services, formerly known as Student Academic Support Services, is nationally known for its holistic and comprehensive approach. Annually, more than 20% of students at McDaniel participate in SASS programming with over 100 students benefiting from the select services provided.  

The McDaniel Step Ahead program through SASS also assists incoming first-year and transfer students with documented disabilities acclimate to college by allowing students the opportunity to move on campus early and participate in a series of workshops and other activities that help establish both a college routine and a support network on campus. Additionally, McDaniel offers a study abroad trip over McDaniel’s January Term exclusively for SASS students.