GainED at Normandale
Welcome to the GainED (Growth and Achievement through Inclusive Education) Program at Normandale Community College! Our goal is to foster an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment where students of all abilities can thrive academically, socially, and professionally. We are excited to support you on this journey of personal and academic growth.
WHAT IT IS:
GainED is an inclusive higher education program that empowers students with intellectual and developmental disabilities to navigate their educational journey, gain meaningful experiences, and transition confidently into work and community life through inclusive, credentialed learning at Normandale Community College.
We are working toward a college where every learner is welcomed, supported, and celebrated; where inclusion is not an exception, but the expectation.
How It Works:
Students in the GainED program take classes with their peers, participate in internships or other work-based opportunities, and engage in social and independent living activities to earn a Comprehensive Applied Skills Certificate. Students have the opportunity to focus on areas of interest in their elective courses, internships, and social and recreational activities.
THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES:
The GainED program is designed to achieve learning outcomes in the areas of academics, career readiness, and self-determined living so that students are able to:
Students engage in academic, professional, social, and independent living, culminating in a Comprehensive Applied Skills Certificate.
To be considered for admission, you must meet these requirements:
Students apply to the GainED program before applying to the college. The application and admissions process includes:
GainED Students are selected based on:
Review the Normandale GainED Handbook for more information.
As a GainED student at Normandale Community College, you are expected to maintain satisfactory academic progress. To remain in good standing, students must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) in four key domains:
Progress is reviewed regularly with staff support, and students receive personalized coaching and plan adjustments if challenges arise. For more details, check out the GainED Student Handbook.
Students in the GainED program pay $542.19 per credit starting Fall 2026. Students are responsible for paying tuition and fees each semester and are encouraged to seek financial support from the following agencies:
Normandale’s Financial Aid Office can answer questions about payment, assistance options, and other financial aid questions.
Normandale Community College and the GainED program have applied for federally designated status as a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary Program (CTP). This status will allow students to be eligible to complete the FAFSA and receive certain forms of federal financial aid. Please note that the CTP designation impacts federal financial aid, but students may still have access to financial support through the State of Minnesota regardless of CTP status.
To learn more about financial aid:
Yes! We recognize the importance of family and guardian involvement in supporting student success. Families and guardians are encouraged to:
Review the GainED Student Handbook to learn about more ways families and guardians can support their student.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Under FERPA, once a student turns 18 or enrolls in a college or university, the rights to access and control their education records transfer to the student. Students can grant or withdraw consent to share their information at any time. In accordance with FERPA regulations, GainED students and Normandale Community College cannot release information about students to parents without the student's written consent. All college staff, including those in Accessibility Services, are bound by this law.
The Accessibility Services adheres to FERPA guidelines. Students are responsible for sharing their academic progress and other Accessibility Services-related information with their parents or guardians unless they have signed a Student Records Information Release Form, or the parent has legal guardianship.
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) strongly believes in diversity as an integral part of society and our college community. It is our mission and commitment to assist students with disabilities to self-advocate for equitable access to their academic environment.
Through an interactive process with a disability specialist, your instructor, and you, OSD provides classroom and testing accommodations for students with both temporary and long-term disabilities. We are here to support you to self-advocate for your accessible education.
Visit The Office for Students with Disabilities page to learn more.
For general information, please email us. For the quickest service, please include your Student Number in all communications.
Note: During registration seasons, we experience a high volume of calls and emails. During those times it may take us a few days to respond to you.
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