[AAACE-NLA] Literacy programs in community colleges vs. libraries

[AndresMuro at aol.com]

Robert: 

I have been managing a literacy, ESL, ABE program from within a CC for the last 10 years. I have worked very closely with the local libraries, and with the schoold districts. I am familiar with the overwhelming amount of barriers that exist wihtin the CC. With this, I can tell you that working from within a CC is probably the best place to operate an adult ed, literacy ESL program.

Barriers:

Stepchildness
Bureaucracy
Soemtimes, college services may not be accessible to your students.

Advantages

CCs are like little societies with incredible amounts of services which may be available to the students. ie: library, counseling, labs, workshops, etc. They also have all the barriers, so they are good contexts to learn to deal with barriers within a controlled environment. 

Transition. Working from within a cc, you can easily help your students transition to CC programs. You can work closely with faculty and counselors to create projects, get support for your students, etc.

Resource Development and admin. CCs tend to have well established resource development departments that can facilitate the entire process of writing grants. All you have to do is write the narrative and the budget. Complicated forms, billings to funder and other bureaucratic elements are handled by another office.

Grants accesible to you. As a literacy, ABE program you are considered as a non-profit even within a CC. You can still apply for funds designated to non profits. You can also apply for grants designated to LEAs. finally, you can get funding destined to Higher Education. So, you have access to many more resources and can develop more comprehensive programs. 

Liteacy students feel good about attending a higher education environment. 

Libraries will continue to be equally accessible to you, for you to do all the things that you would want to do in the library. 

My two cents,

Andres

 

go here: www.geocities.com/andresmuro/art.html