RCCD’s PACT Program Celebrates First-Year Success
07/21/2026
The Riverside Community College District's Promoting Achievable College Transitions (PACT) program is celebrating a major milestone as the inaugural cohort of autistic and neurodiverse students completed their first full year of college with course success rates that exceeded those of the district's overall student population by 9%.
The pilot initiative supports autistic and neurodiverse students beginning in their senior year of high school and continuing through their first year of college. Through intensive case management, academic coaching, and social skills programming, the program helps students successfully transition to higher education.
During the past year, PACT partnered with more than 60 high schools across the Inland Empire and served approximately 300 students at Riverside City College, Norco College, and Moreno Valley College.
As the inaugural cohort completed its second consecutive semester, students maintained the gains achieved during their first term and finished the academic year with a course success rate that was 9% higher than the Riverside Community College District's overall student population.
The results are especially significant given national trends. According to the program, 68% of autistic students never pursue postsecondary education, and among those who do, only about 35% complete a degree or credential.
"These numbers reflect what's possible when neurodiverse students are given the structured, sustained support they need to thrive," said Michael Peterson, PACT project manager. "Our first cohort has shown that with dedicated case management, this population doesn't just keep pace with their peers — they can exceed it. We're proud of what these students have accomplished, and we're building on those lessons as we welcome an even larger second cohort this fall."
Supporting Student Success
Throughout the year, dedicated Student Success Coordinators provided individualized support as students transitioned from high school into college. Coordinators met regularly with participants to monitor academic progress, address challenges, and connect students with campus resources.
PACT also offered the PEERS® social skills curriculum, based on the University of California, Los Angeles Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills. The multi-semester program concluded with a graduation ceremony for participating students in June 2026.
Additional programming included wellness workshops, mock interviews, campus tours, and a Neurodiversity Panel featuring PACT alumni, current students, faculty members, and community representatives.
To expand career readiness opportunities, PACT partnered with Phenix Gateway to provide job search strategies, résumé and cover letter development, and employer networking opportunities for autistic and neurodiverse students. The partnership will continue this fall with a full-day Career Pathways Conference planned for October 2026.
PACT is supported through an award from the Inland Empire Regional K-16 Education Collaborative and continues to strengthen partnerships with local high schools, employer partners such as Phenix Gateway, and Disability Resource Centers across Riverside Community College District's three colleges.
As the program welcomes its second cohort this fall, efforts will focus on expanding student support services while continuing to advocate for long-term institutional investment.
For more information about the PACT program, visit www.rccd.edu/pact or follow @rccd_pact on Instagram.
Published by External Relations & Strategic Communications