Project ADVANCE focuses on recruiting, retaining, and preparing undergraduate students with disabilities for placement in the job market and/or advanced graduate studies. Project implementation requires four stages of development:

• enhancing student enrollment;
• enabling student academic and psychosocial inegration;
• career development preparation and follow-up;
• and project evaluation.

Special emphasis will be made throughout the four stages to target minority students with disabilities. Strong partnerships will be developed with disability support and advocacy groups, independent living centers, state agencies, and employers in the local communities of MS. Approximately 135 students will be recruited to enroll at the University and participate in the program.