Using Community Colleges to Re-Connect Disconnected Youth

By W. Norton Grubb
In developing a coherent program for disconnected youth, foundations should focus on improvements in community colleges. They should avoid creating small programs, either in colleges or in community-based organizations, that have little chance of reforming basic practices. Fruitful reforms might include bridge programs or transitional colleges that prepare youth who are not ready for college. These could be created either as noncredit divisions of colleges, as linkages between community-based organizations and colleges, or even as links between colleges and either adult programs or area vocational schools. Several specific practices need support and reform, no matter where programs for disconnected youth take place:
  • Developmental education needs to be strengthened to move away from skill-and-drill instruction.
  • Guidance and counseling needs improvement, particularly for undecided students.
  • Financial aid offices should be strengthened.
  • Support services generally need to improve, perhaps following the K-12 model of comprehensive or one-stop service centers.
  • Teaching needs to be improved to meet the needs of nontraditional students.
  • Work-based learning could be strengthened as a form of career exploration, a source of income, and a place to learn soft skills.

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February 2003

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