Chronic Illness: Audio files

The Chronic Illness Initiative (CII) provides access to higher education for students disabled by a chronic illness. Students who struggle with illnesses that unpredictably increase and decrease in severity such as chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus or illnesses with frequent hospitalizations such as cancer or heart disease, may have found it difficult, if not impossible, to meet the requirements of a conventional college program. At the School for New Learning, staff and faculty work every day with students who have complex lives. They are compassionate and committed to helping CII students achieve their educational goals.

The CII offers services to chronically ill students so they may complete SNL requirements and earn a DePaul University degree. A chronic illness is one that typically involves waxing and waning symptoms that interfere with the student’s ability to physically engage successfully in a college program. Students with illnesses that can better be served by the PLuS program (for students with learning disabilities), or the Office of Students with Disabilities will be referred to those programs. Whether or not a student is appropriate for the CII program is based on a determination by CII program officials that the individual facts and circumstances fit the supports offered by the program. Contact Us