(Photo by: Garrett Lovell)

JCCC offers well over 100 degree and certificate programs across campus. The CLEAR program stands for College Learning Experiences, Activities and Resources. Courtney Barden has been with the Supported Education Department since 1998 and has been the program director for CLEAR since 2017. Barden sees about 200 students enroll in the program every semester.

“This is really built into my whole life,” Barden explained.

She has worked with students coming to CLEAR since she was 4-5 years old. Barden’s mom worked with Johnson County Developmental Supports, which is an agency that supports students with intellectual disabilities in the community. Barden has had the opportunity to get to know students for most of her life.

“I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than being able to offer an opportunity like education to a group of students who have historically been excluded from continuing higher education,” Barden said.

CLEAR holds a lot of pride in being able to open doors for students who have historically not had that opportunity.

“But my favorite part of CLEAR is just the people,” Barden said.

CLEAR offers two different programs for eligible students. The first is their Saturday “Life Enrichment” program that began in 1977. The Saturday program is offered for students 18+. They offer game-based learning, performance classes, art classes, physical conditioning classes, and more topics that work to enrich the lives of their students.

“We have some students that have been coming and taking classes since the 1970s, so it really is cool because we get to work with a lot of students kind of over their lifespan,” Barden said.

CLEAR’s weekday program began in the late 1990s. The weekday program is a partnership between the college and post-high school programs. Students are able to receive services through high school, until they age out of the transition stage in the post-high school programs at the age of 21. CLEAR works to partner with school districts to help with the transition programming. This is offered for students 18-26 years-old. The focus for the weekday program is more academically aligned than the Saturday program. Students study math, English, science, and more with a practical application–budgeting instead of algebra, for example.

Both programs are available for students who are previously or currently eligible for special education due to intellectual or developmental disabilities. The CLEAR weekday program allows students to choose an optional certificate in either arts, independent living, employment skills, or general studies. To earn their certificate, students have to take 10 classes that are tracked towards the certificate they have chosen.

“We award anywhere between probably 10 and 20 certificates per semester,” Barden said.

These certificates are great for students’ resumes.

Only 6% of colleges nationwide offer this type of program. CLEAR is a true hidden gem of opportunities on our campus. CLEAR is always searching for volunteers, especially for their Saturday program. To volunteer, go to the JCCC website and look for CLEAR under the volunteer tab.