Childcare
Affordable childcare is an essential element of success for students enrolled in the Seattle
Community Colleges. Thirty percent of the colleges’ students are parents of young children
and would not be able to stay in college without the ability to enroll their children in safe, convenient and affordable
childcare or preschool programs.
Opportunity
The Seattle Community Colleges’ childcare centers have made it possible for thousands of parents to reach their educational and professional goals.
The retention rate for students who have children enrolled in the childcare centers is an outstanding 75% despite the simultaneous
challenges of educational and parenting responsibilities. In addition, by getting an early start to learning through an enriched child care and
preschool experience, the children of these students are more likely to grow up to be successful learners and attend college themselves!
Challenge
Students who are parents not only pay for child care, but also have all the financial burdens of maintaining a family in addition to the cost of
tuition, books and fees. In fact, the cost of childcare for a student enrolled for 15 credits can actually be more than the cost of tuition.
Support
Increases to the endowed support of the childcare centers would help make affordable childcare available to everyone who needs it.
With the support of our donors, we hope to remove childcare as a barrier to our students’ future life success.
Tutoring
In the community college setting, individual tutoring is often essential for student success. Tutoring support for the
diverse academic needs of the student population results in increased self-confidence and an improved attitude towards learning.
Given the many obstacles to a higher education, the availability of free tutoring for students is key to helping students stay in school and succeed.
Opportunity
The tutoring centers at each of the Seattle Community Colleges have helped thousands of students succeed in their college coursework by providing free,
professional tutoring support. Tutoring works! A study conducted by North Seattle Community College from 2002 through 2005 showed that compared to
the overall student population, the retention rate for students who participated in the tutoring program was over twice as high as that for other students.
Challenge
Through the support of the Power & Promise campaign, the tutoring centers want to extend their capacity to meet the needs of all students,
including the 40% of students who work full-time and attend school at night, as well as those students who need direct support in the classroom or
those who attend school on-line. In addition, support is needed to ensure there is coordination between the classroom teaching and tutoring support
as well as equipment and supplies to best serve the needs of the students.
Support
To meet the needs of all students the colleges would like to add the ability to offer tutoring services on-line. North And South Seattle’s on-line tutoring
service allows tutors to work with students both synchronously and asynchronously, answering questions in real time, or replying to questions and
essay submissions that students have left for review and commentary, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
To reach these goals, the Power & Promise campaign will establish endowed funds to support on-line tutoring, as well as encourage new ideas
and support innovative programs and equipment needs to ensure all students have the ability to utilize tutoring services.