Arkansas Community Colleges
Arkansas Career Pathways Initiative, 2005
Funding: Pathways is funded by the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
Implementation: Each campus hired case managers to work with low-income parents.
Training: The state trains case managers to work with people experiencing poverty.
Endicott College (Mass.)
Keys to Degrees, 1993
Funding: The university is the main source, along with donations.
Implementation: The college built specialized housing for single parents.
Training: Keys to Degrees staffers receive training and regular guidance from the college’s counseling center as well as from community agencies and statewide family assistance programs.
LINK TO MAIN ARTICLE: Higher ed support for at-risk students
Kennesaw State University (Ga.)
CARE Center, 2013
Funding: The center relies largely on donations.
Implementation: CARE collaborated with housing staff to create an emergency dorm unit for homeless students; departments across campus help find jobs for students who were struggling financially.
Training: Staff, which includes student employees, go through a daylong orientation and weekly trainings on topics such as new software to keep track of food pantry inventory.
Western Michigan University
Seita Scholars, 2008
Funding: The university funds staff salaries, scholarships and equipment; donations cover study abroad programs and student emergency needs.
Implementation: The school of social work launched the program after FAFSA applications made apparent the number of foster system students.
Training: Using a model developed in-house, faculty and others are trained to support students who have lived in foster care or have suffered adverse childhood experiences.
Matt Zalaznick is senior associate editor of UB.
