The Pleasantville Lab School at Pace University is designed to aid 18-21 year-old students with intellectual/developmental disabilities in transitioning into the adult and working world by work readiness training, and inclusion in the campus environment. The Lab School provides Pace students with opportunities to be mentors, learn more about disabilities and experience more diversity in their classroom environments, right on the Pleasantville campus.

 Within the last 3 years, The Lab school program has provided 77 undergraduate internships, employed 34 students, community service hours for 17 students in the setters leadership program, and on campus field placement for 9 School of Education students.  The outlook of opportunities within the Lab School Program for undergraduate and graduate students has grown with each semester. However, multiple instances of mishandling, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies in the decision-making rationale, and miscommunication by Pace administrators within the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, have damaged the relationship between the Pleasantville Union Free School District/Lab School. Lab School students have been treated as inconveniences, instead of human beings. The actions of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences administrators who were designated to aid the program have implied that the presence and participation of the Lab school students in classroom and campus environments is a waste of time. The student community has worked together before to ensure that the Lab School remain at Pace, because they are an inspiration and an asset to the Pleasantville campus.

 The program is being pushed out of the Pace community, and it would be a disservice to the student experience at Pace to be denied the opportunity to work with them. It is in the best interest of the student community to band together and demand that Pace treat every individual fairly and with respect. The ultimate goal is to continue to run the Lab School program here at Pace. In order to move forward, the needs of the Lab School program need to be met.

 1)    Proper handling of administrative work

2)    A reasonable, viable list of agreed upon courses that Lab School students can enroll in within a timely manner.

3)    Permission for the Program Coordinator, Lab School interns, and Pace University instructors to communicate and work together to make classes as beneficial as possible for everyone.

4)    Designated classroom space for the Lab School program to operate.

 We must all abide by and uphold Pace University’s Commitment to Diversity: “The cornerstone of Pace University’s commitment to diversity is Opportunitas—providing students, faculty and staff with the opportunity to achieve excellence. Since 1906, our dedication to Opportunitas has been reflected in the wealth of distinctive worldviews and voices that come from the Pace community’s constellation of experiences.  Embracing diversity of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, citizenship, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital or domestic partnership status, is central to our mission. As a scholarly community, we recognize that diversity helps foster a strong and vibrant learning environment for our students.  This environment is fundamental to the culture of our institution, and it is further enriched by diversity among faculty and staff who support the intellectual endeavors of our students. Pace University will continue to cultivate an environment that fosters educational excellence, innovation and leadership for all current and future members of our community.”