Support = Success
Personalized guidance facilitates student success.
Villa’s Achieve Program was designed to support college students with learning differences. The only program of its kind in Western New York, Achieve provides personalized academic support and career preparation while promoting student empowerment.
Achieve students have an on-campus support system that assesses their individual needs and develops a plan to manage responsibilities, communicate, and advocate for themselves.
Academic Support
Villa’s Achieve Program delivers highly personalized support by combining academic skill-building with individualized guidance and a team-based approach to student success.
Students benefit from priority registration, weekly group learning sessions, and one-on-one personalized coaching meetings that focus on strengthening reading, writing, note-taking, and study skills. Through access to assistive technology, a dedicated academic study center, and targeted tutoring services, students receive the support they need to thrive in an environment that allows them to feel connected, guided, and confident.
The program’s coordinated support model includes weekly check-ins, multiple progress updates, and proactive advising, ensuring that each student’s learning pathway includes consistent support while promoting academic confidence and independence. Plus, Achieve’s team-based approach allows staff to communicate with faculty and a student’s home support system to ensure they receive holistic support throughout their academic journey and into their career.
Student Empowerment
Achieve guides students through the transition from high school to college by building confidence in navigating campus life, interacting with faculty and peers, and adjusting to new expectations. As they progress, students strengthen social skills, problem-solving abilities, and resilience.
These essential life and leadership skills lead to long-term academic, personal, and professional success. Through the development of executive functioning, self-advocacy, and self-understanding, students learn to manage time, set goals, and take ownership of their learning.
Signature experiences like the Achieve Kick-Off, End-of-Year Celebration, and character awards recognize growth, foster community, and celebrate each student’s progress and achievements.
Career Readiness
Achieve prepares students for life after graduation through comprehensive, hands-on career readiness support. Students begin their career planning process during their first semester on campus. They’ll work with the program’s dedicated Career Planning Specialist to identify career options so they can spend the next four years gaining the experience they’ll need to enter their chosen field.
On-Campus Internships
Achieve students will complete two paid internships right here, on Villa’s small and friendly campus. Each student has their own supervisor and a weekly, three-hour shift. Students are expected to arrive on time, dress professionally, and complete any assigned tasks. This system allows students to focus on developing the skills and competencies that are necessary for professional success. Notably, 100% of eligible students have completed off-campus internships, demonstrating the program’s strong commitment to real-world career success.
Students can work in any department on campus, including admissions, communications, development, the business office, and more.
Off-Campus Internships
On-campus internships get Achieve students ready to take the next step in their own professional development. Supported by our Career Services Office, students will create a resume, write a cover letter, and participate in mock interviews as they work to obtain an off-campus internship. These internships should aligns with students’ career goals and allow them to build on the knowledge and skills they gained during their on-campus internships.
Career Preparation
Achieve students have access to expert assistance in building résumés, writing cover letters, and navigating the job search process. Students also receive financial literacy training and guidance on workplace accommodations to help them transition confidently into professional environments.
Achieve students have gone on to work for some notable businesses throughout Western New York, including Sheas, the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo, Sodexo, and more.
Our Approach
Every student is different. That’s why Achieve takes a personalized, comprehensive approach to helping students succeed.
Holistic.
We work with students individually to provde support in all facets—academically, socially, personally, and professionally.
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The Achieve Program takes a truly holistic approach to student success, supporting the whole student — academically, socially, emotionally, and professionally. Rather than focusing on grades alone, the program helps students build essential life skills such as executive functioning, self-advocacy, and problem solving, while also strengthening confidence, independence, and resilience. Through personalized coaching, academic skill development, career preparation, and community-building experiences, Achieve ensures students receive integrated support that prepares them not just for college, but for life beyond it.
Student Centered.
Support begins with understanding each student’s individual needs, strengths, goals, and potential.
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The Achieve Program operates with a team-based approach. Staff communicate regularly with students, faculty, and the home support system. This collaborative approach maximizes each student’s opportunity for success by surrounding them with an aligned network of support. Through regular communication, shared progress updates, and intentional partnerships across campus, the program ensures that no student works in isolation — instead, they benefit from a connected team that reinforces accountability, consistency, and encouragement, helping them stay on track and reach their full potential.
Collaborative.
Students benefit from a connected team of Achieve staff, faculty, and support systems working together.
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Student Centered.
Like all of Villa, Achieve is deeply student-centered. The program was designed to assess and meet the individual needs, strengths, and potential of each student. Beginning on day one, students will work with Achieve staff to create an academic success plan that is tailored to guide their personal academic, personal, and professional growth.
