Exploring Top University Support for Executive Function Skills: A Look at 11 Noteworthy Programs
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In the quest to ensure success for neurodivergent students in higher education, finding the right fit is paramount. This article offers guidance on how to do just that, highlighting colleges and universities that go beyond accommodations to teach students how to build executive function skills.
More schools than ever are offering targeted supports to help neurodivergent students thrive, including personalised coaching, structured transition programs, and a welcoming campus culture. To identify these strong programs, it's essential to focus on fit over prestige.
Key features to look for in an executive function-friendly program include structured, weekly executive function coaching, dedicated support centres for neurodivergent learners, trained faculty and learning specialists, holistic and wraparound supports, and proven student outcomes. Strong programs offer additional wraparound supports, such as mental health counseling, peer mentoring and social groups, life skills workshops (budgeting, cooking, sleep routines), and transition programs for freshmen and transfers.
One of the most reliable ways to identify a strong program is by looking at its long-term results, such as higher-than-average retention and graduation rates, and authentic student feedback and testimonials.
The following institutions and models are among the best recognised for combining personalised coaching, peer mentoring, and academic integration to support neurodivergent students' success:
- Landmark College and College at Cumberland (Georgia) Landmark College, a pioneer in neurodivergent education with over 40 years of experience, has partnered with College at Cumberland to create a combined program offering rigorous academics with individualised executive function coaching, peer support, life skills development, career readiness, and social-emotional resources designed to foster independence and long-term success. This program begins Fall 2025 and aims specifically at neurodivergent learners.
- Woodbury University (California) Woodbury’s innovative Student Accessibility Services (SAS) integrates support directly into the curriculum, especially in studio and art design programs. The SAS model involves coaching and tailored strategies embedded into classes, supporting neurodivergent students throughout the academic process rather than as an afterthought. This approach includes executive functioning and peer mentoring components, promoting inclusion in hands-on, creative learning environments.
- Colleges with Strong Student Accessibility/Disability Services (General Model) According to ADDitude, many ADHD-supportive colleges feature robust Disability or Student Accessibility Services providing one-on-one coaching specialising in executive function skills, peer or professional tutoring and mentoring programs, and workshops and training seminars on self-advocacy and academic strategies. These services vary by institution but are crucial and can be assessed by directly engaging with each school’s office of accessibility.
- Institutions Engaged in Faculty and Curriculum Development for Neurodiversity Programs like the Supporting Neurodivergent Students Certificate at California State University, Fullerton, show a broader trend where colleges train faculty in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and neurodiversity principles. While more faculty-centered, this approach enhances integrated academic support and inclusive classrooms, benefiting neurodivergent students indirectly through improved teaching methods.
- Centres for Neurodiversity and Specialized College Readiness Supports Some academic centres—such as the Center for Neurodiversity at Franklin Academy—work with secondary and higher education institutions to design innovative curricula and transition plans focusing on executive function, life skills, and self-determination. Though secondary-focused, such centres often influence university practices and provide tailored guidance and mentoring that align with neurodivergent needs.
For a comprehensive list of top college support programs with executive function resources, refer to the summary table below. When choosing a college, prospective students and families should engage directly with offices of disability or accessibility services to confirm specifics that match student needs and preferences.
Summary Table of Key Programs and Services
| Institution/Program | Personalised Executive Function Coaching | Peer Mentoring | Integrated Academic Support | Notes | |------------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Landmark College / College at Cumberland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Proven curriculum tailored for neurodivergent learners, launching Fall 2025[1] | | Woodbury University (SAS) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Support embedded in studio courses, forward-thinking model[3] | | ADHD-Supportive Colleges (General) | Often | Often | Yes | Disability offices offer coaching, tutoring, workshops[4] | | CSUF (Faculty Training) | Indirect via faculty development | Indirect | Yes | Faculty trained in neurodiversity and UDL improves support[5] | | Franklin Academy Center for Neurodiversity | Yes (in partnership/design) | Variable | Yes | Focus on curriculum and transition planning for neurodivergent learners[2] |
This article provides a list of questions to ask when researching or visiting colleges to evaluate executive function support programs. Examples of colleges with outstanding support programs for neurodivergent students include the University of Denver's Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP), the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center at the University of Arizona, Landmark College in Putney, Vermont, and Curry College's PAL Program.
- To maximize personal development and learning for neurodivergent students, it's crucial to consider colleges that prioritize time management and life skills, such as Landmark College and College at Cumberland, which offer individualized executive function coaching, peer support, and life skills development as part of their programs.
- For a comprehensive approach to education-and-self-development, students should look for institutions that not only provide academic support but also integrate executive function coaching and peer mentoring into their curriculum, like Woodbury University's Student Accessibility Services.
- The process of choosing a college should involve inquiring about personal-growth opportunities, like workshops to learn budgeting, cooking, and sleep routines, as well as transition programs for freshmen and transfers, which are key components of successful, long-term student outcomes.
