On Oct. 14, Bay University launched Go Fetch!, a new business where students run teacher errands on Burlingame Avenue. The program is meant to provide vocational training and functional academics while supporting staff.

Located at Burlingame, Capuchino High School, and the College of San Mateo, Bay University is designed to teach college-age students with intellectual disabilities independence and social and vocational skills.

Due to federal budget cuts, Bay University has recently lost funding for programs that administered vocational rehabilitation services, such as the Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC) and the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR). As a result, the program lost many of its job sites.

Despite this, Bay University found an alternative form of vocational training that is also of service to Burlingame teachers.  

“We were trying to find creative ways for students to be able to still work,” Bay University teacher Tish Herron said. “We decided to come up with just a school business and we’re doing errands on campus.”

To represent the emotional support dogs in their program, the teachers decided to name the business Go Fetch!, using their dogs as mascots. 

Because of the dog-inspired name, Bay University student Curtis Lau said he originally thought Go Fetch! was a dog business, but was pleasantly surprised when he started deliveries.

“Yesterday, one of the jobs was to go to Michaels and pick up an order, but they decided the [poster] board wasn’t right so I had to go back and return it today,” Lau* said. “My first delivery today was a package and some letters at UPS.”

The business is open on all weekdays except for Thursday, and teachers fill out their desired errand and time on a Google Form. In the mornings, Bay University students are responsible for checking new orders online, sending emails to confirm them, and writing thank-you emails after completing the delivery.

“Students will learn to be organized. They’ll learn email skills, how to follow directions, and collaboration,” Herron said. 

Typically, Bay University students complete four hours of work-based learning per week in their school day, with some students choosing to work more. Herron said students will be able to use this business program as a stepping stone to getting a job.

“We try to find jobs that interest them, that they’re going to be successful at,” Herron said. “We have some students working at the San Mateo Medical Center in the linen department, folding towels and stocking ER carts. We have students working over at Burlingame Parks and Rec, and they are just disinfecting and cleaning.”

*Tish Herron assisted with the interview of Curtis Lau.