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History of the Achieve Program
The Achieve Program has provided academic support to SIUC students with learning disabilities since 1978. It was founded by Dr. Barbara Cordoni, who served as the Coordinator of Achieve until 2001. It was the first program of its type at a major university, and has offered continuous service to students for over 25 years. It was originally supported through internal University funding. A three-year federal grant was awarded in the fall of 1980. Achieve was the first post-secondary support program at a major four-year university to receive federal funding of this nature. In August, 1983, "Project Achieve" became the Clinical Center Achieve Program due to the University's decision to "institutionalize" the Program.
What does "institutionalize" mean to a student with a learning disability looking for a support program? The University committed itself to continuing the Achieve Program as a permanent part of the University structure. The Achieve Program was the first such program to be institutionalized by any college/university in the country. This has insured that the quality support services that were began in 1978 will be around for many years to come.