NITEO: latin verb: present active \ niteo \ bloom or thrive; shine
A semester-long program for young adults who have had an interruption to their college or university due to a mental health condition.
NITEO: latin verb to thrive or to bloom
Program Overview
NITEO is often described as a simulation of college, where individuals resume the familiar role of student. During the program, students build skills and support through academic instruction, coaching, and community.
Why NITEO?
NITEO started in 2014 because we saw a gap in programming. Young adults would take a leave of absence from their respective colleges and universities and end up on their family or caregivers’ couches for the duration of that leave. Thereby, not being given the opportunity to practice skills or build supports needed to ensure a successful return to a valued role like education or work.
NITEO sought to disrupt that pattern by providing a college-simulated program in which students get to come and regain the role of student, actively taking classes with a cohort of their peers. In the NITEO classes, students build academic, wellness, and social skills, identify supports, and regain confidence to be able to then identify a path forward.
Since its inception, NITEO has graduated over 300 students from the program, with 87% of those students returning to school in some capacity and with 93% retuning to a valued role of school or work.
I was struggling through various intensive outpatient programs that I wasn’t making progress at and generally felt disconnected from. NITEO’s focus on early career building and academic skills, particularly around executive functioning were a great fit and endlessly helpful. Years later, I still utilize many of the strategies I learned about in my day to day life and at work.
Spring 2020 NITEO Cohort Member
NITEO's Structure
Each fall (September-December) and spring (January-May) semester, a cohort of 15-20 students apply and are invited to participate in NITEO. The fall and spring semesters run 15 weeks, beginning with an orientation and ending with an end-of-semester Open House celebration. The semester-long program, is a simulation of the college experience where students have opportunities to:
Attend wellness and academic classes to build skills for collegiate, work, and personal success
Build lasting relationships with same-age peers and supports
Work one-on-one with an assigned College Coach for individualized support around a host of academic, vocational, social, and wellness areas
I found out about Niteo at one of the lowest points in my young adult life, when I was struggling with major depression and undiagnosed ADHD. The program gave me structure and a sense of community while I took a semester off from college, and provided me with the support system and confidence to go back to school the next semester. I was able to bring my GPA back up and graduate college a few years later. I'm so grateful for the staff and peers that I met who were so clearly invested in my success and helped encourage me to finish my degree. Thank you Niteo!
Fall 2017 NITEO Cohort Member
NITEO Curriculum
Classes meet in person on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Coaching is typically scheduled, in-person, after classes on one of those days. Students report that having a routine is helpful in setting them up to be able to return to school or work. On non-NITEO days, students often enroll in a college course, find a part-time job, or volunteer to maintain that routine.
Though students do not receive college credit for NITEO, we are able to provide institutions of higher education and work with valuable insight on students’ classroom participation and performance as an indicator of their readiness to return to college.
All classes are held at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University, and enrolled students have access to various other University resources, including the Fitness and Recreation Center.
The fee for the fall or spring semester of NITEO – classes and coaching – is $16,400. Financial assistance through the Center may be available to students and families based on need, as we do not work with insurance companies.
My experience with NITEO gave me a space to work on both my mental health and my goals around school. The coaching and peer support made the process feel a lot less overwhelming, and I learned how crucially important encouragement and practical guidance can be. That experience really influenced my own interest in pursuing a career in counseling, so I can help others as well.
Fall 2022 NITEO Cohort Member
Summer NITEO
The College Mental Health Education Programs presents a 6-week summer term option. The summer semester is a 6-week intensive, in-person learning experience dedicated to building collegiate resilience, community, wellness, and readiness for higher education.
Summer NITEO classes, peer-led social activities, and supportive study halls meet in person three days a week. Core classes engage students in group projects and learning as well as critical academic skills like writing and presenting. Individualized College Coaching is also built into the program, offering one-on-one support and planning for successful entry or re-entry to college.
Summer NITEO is $7,200 per semester, and financial assistance through the Center may be available to students and families based on need, as we do not work with insurance companies.
Enrolling in NITEO and NITEO Summer
The process for applying to NITEO and NITEO Summer is the same. Eligible applicants, young adults ages 18-24 living with a mental health condition, and members of their support team (e.g., families), are encouraged to connect with the Assistant Director, Paul Cherchia, to learn about NITEO and other programs offered at the Center.
If it feels like NITEO would be mutually beneficial, students are then asked to submit an enrollment application and will then be contacted for subsequent interviews with another member of the NITEO staff.
Formal acceptance letters are provided to students invited to join the program, along with payment instructions. Candidates who are not accepted are referred to other resources and programming that might better meet their current needs.
