Program Structure

Designed for Success

The SEU Link program has been specifically designed to help our students make the transition from high school to adulthood while they pursue their areas of interest and build skills that will benefit them for years to come.

Timeline for Completion

Standard Program

Students can expect to complete the program in two years. Each completed course qualifies for one unit, and a total of 16 units is required to graduate. Courses are offered in the fall and spring semesters only, and students are off for the summer.

Advanced Program

Students who qualify have the option to continue for a third year, with an emphasis on closer to full-time employment.

Plenty of Help is Available!

Our dedicated faculty closely monitor Link students to ensure they are making the satisfactory academic progress required to remain enrolled, and caring peer mentors provide academic support to Link students as needed.

Academics

Our students take four courses per semester while working toward a Link Postsecondary Program Certificate of Professional Readiness.

  • Link Courses. Two courses each semester are designed specifically for Link students. These classes teach skills such as employability, independent living, and self-advocacy, and are graded on a standard letter grade scale.
  • Elective Courses. The additional two courses each semester are inclusive courses taken alongside traditional SEU students, providing opportunities for students to learn from each other, build meaningful relationships, and encourage one another. These elective courses are based on each student’s career interest area. The inclusive courses are taken on a pass/fail grading system with individualized accommodations, supports, and modifications as appropriate.
  • Courses for Credit – Optional. During their inclusive courses in their second semester, some students may demonstrate readiness to participate in inclusive courses while meeting all course requirements and expectations. These students may become eligible to enroll in courses for credit during a future semester. Students who successfully complete inclusive courses for credit may have the option to continue in the program beyond their second year, and may have opportunities to transition to degree-seeking enrollment at SEU.
Link students graduation

Available Concentrations

CredentialsInternshipsSkills

Required:

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Serv-Safe Food Handler
  • Florida Ready to Work Soft Skills
  • Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom

Optional:

  • Florida Ready to Work Digital Skills
  • Florida Ready to Work Academic Skills

On-Campus:

  • SEU Marketing

Off-Campus

  • SEU Creative Downtown
  • Critical Thinking
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Use of design software
  • Orgnization
  • Time management
  • Attention to detail
  • Creativity
CredentialsInternshipsSkills

Required:

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Serv-Safe Food Handler
  • Florida Ready to Work Soft Skills
  • National Retail Foundation (NRF) – Rise Up Retail Industry Fundamental Specialist OR Simnet Microsoft 1 Badge for Word, Excel, & PowerPoint

Optional:

  • Florida Ready to Work Digital Skills
  • Florida Ready to Work Academic Skills
  • National Retail Foundation (NRF) – Rise Up Customer Service & Sales Certified Specialist

On-Campus:

TA for:

  • College of Education Faculty
  • Pathways School of Excellence
  • Library
  • Advancement

Off-Campus:

  • Offices
  • Stores
  • Purrology Cat Cafe
  • Communication
  • Technology in office/retail settings
  • Making change
  • Customer service
  • POS knowledge
  • Stress management
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Teamwork
CredentialsInternshipsSkills

Required:

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Serv-Safe Food Handler
  • Florida Ready to Work Soft Skills
  • State of Florida Paraprofessional Certification

Optional:

  • Florida Ready to Work Digital Skills
  • Florida Ready to Work Academic Skills

On-Campus:

TA for:

  •  College of Education Faculty
  • Pathways School of Excellence
  • Library

Off-Campus:

  • Daycares
  • Schools
  • Supervising lunch/PE
  • Photo-copying
  • Laminating
  • Data entry
  • Grade papers
  • Material assembly
  • Implement lesson plans
  • Take data
  • Follow behavior intervention plan
  • Teamwork
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Communication
CredentialsInternshipsSkills

Required:

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Serv-Safe Food Handler
  • Florida Ready to Work Soft Skills
  • Special Strong

Optional:

  • Florida Ready to Work Digital Skills
  • Florida Ready to Work Academic Skills

On-Campus:

  • Pathways PE
  • SEU Athletics

Off-Campus:

  • Schools
  • Gyms
  • Teamwork
  • Adaptability
  • Communication
  • Nutrition & health knowledge
  • Exercise programs & safety
  • Knowledge of gym equipment
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Motivating
CredentialsInternshipsSkills

Required:

  • CPR/First Aid
  • Serv-Safe Food Handler
  • Florida Ready to Work Soft Skills
  • American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) Certified Front Desk Representative OR Certified Guest Services Professional

Optional:

  • Florida Ready to Work Digital Skills
  • Florida Ready to Work Academic Skills
  • Serv-Safe Allergens

On-Campus:

  • SEU Dining Services
  • Event Services
  • Welcome Center

Off-Campus:

  • Springhill Suites Hotel
  • Purrology Cat Cafe
  • Restaurant
  • Safe handling of food
  • Kitchen safety
  • Customer service
  • Effective Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Problem solving
  • Adaptability
  • Time management
  • Organization
  • Stress management

Credentials

Internships

Skills

Required:

  • CPR/ First Aid
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center 

 

Optional:

  • Florida Ready to Work Digital Skills
  • Florida Ready to Work Academic Skills

On-Campus:

  • Student Success & Retention
  • Student Outreach & Support (SOS)
  • ADA


Off-Campus: 

  • Lakeland Regional Hospital (Transporter)
  • Dream Center (Ministry)
  • Parker Street Ministries
  • Communication, 
  • Teamwork
  • Professionalism
  • Empathy
  • Organization
  • Time management
  • Flexibility
  • Problem-solving
  • Dependability
  • Self-advocacy
Two men wearing headphones sitting at a desk with microphones

Courses for Credit

If a student demonstrates the ability to pass courses for credit, they may be eligible for a 3rd year extension and potential transition to general undergraduate admission. 

Internships: How Link Students Grow

One of the best ways to learn is by doing, which is why SEU Link offers additional growth opportunities beyond the classroom.

Employability Skills. Link students participate in at least 3 semester-long job experiences. These experiences may be a combination of internships (on-campus) or externships (off-campus) and may be paid or unpaid. The number of hours expected for each internship will gradually increase from the first semester to the third. We do our best to match students with internships which are in line with their career field of interest, and the support of a peer mentor job coach is always available.

Internship Levels
Level TimelineDetails
Level 12nd Semester On Campus
Paid or Unpaid
3-5 hours/week
Not specific to career field
Level 23rd SemesterOn or Off Campus
Paid or Unpaid
5-10 hours/week
Should be closer to chosen career field
Level 34th SemesterOff Campus
Paid or Unpaid
10+ hours/week
Aligned with your chosen career field
Advanced Program — Level 4 Optional 3rd year Off Campus
Preferably paid
25-30 hours/week
Aligned with your chosen career field

Internship Partners

Purrology Cat Cafe

Florida Children's Museum

Lakeland Regional Health

Victory Church Lakeland

Campus Engagement

The vibrant campus life and caring community of Southeastern University give Link students the opportunity to become as involved as they would like. Here are just a few examples.

  • Social Peer Mentors. Trained social mentors encourage and support Link students as they engage in campus activities, build relationships, and become active members of the SEU community.
  • Athletics. Our strong athletic program provides opportunities for students to attend or become involved in events.
  • Chapel Services. Link students enjoy worshipping with other SEU students during the variety of campus chapel services available each week.
  • Clubs & Events. Link students are welcome to join any campus organization and participate in intramural athletics.
  • Link Life. Link Life is a campus club which exists to help students engage, connect, and thrive by creating spaces that foster community while embracing one another’s differences. By hosting both on and off campus activities, students will have the opportunity to engage with the SEU community as well as the larger Lakeland community. These inviting spaces will allow individuals to connect and build friendships that will contribute to a thriving college experience. 
  • Living on Campus. Living on campus is an exciting option for qualified Link students, giving them a safe environment to learn independent living skills. Link students who choose to live on campus will live in one of our residence halls alongside trained Independent Living Mentors (ILMs). ILMs are traditional SEU students who live on campus and provide support, coaching, and opportunities for practical skill development during designated working hours. Support for residential Link students is plentiful through our Independent Living Mentors, Campus Life staff, and Link Independent Living Coordinator.
3 students walking down El Prado on campus

Contact Us

SEU Link Post-Secondary Transition Program

Attn. Program Director
Southeastern University College of Education
1000 Longfellow Boulevard, Lakeland, FL 33801
[email protected]

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