Why We Do What We Do

At work colleges, students are encouraged to reexamine the values of the larger society. All the work colleges stress the value of plain living. In this environment where work is a part of the educational experience along with academics, students and faculty can resist external pressure to view the world of higher education as an "ivory tower," out of touch with the real world. Rather, the world is here, and we are committed to the improvement of that world.

Immediate benefits of participation in work college programs include reduction of student debt, increased opportunities for community service, and practical career preparation.

At the work colleges, we believe that the educational process should be comprehensive, with each of its many participants informing and being informed by the broader community. Work college students prepare for leadership through participation. Community service constitutes a significant portion of the work college experience.

At some of the colleges, students are paid for efforts to organize voluntary action. At others, students may work directly with a wide range of agencies such as schools and nursing homes or with individuals as part of their work contract.

Students are encouraged and assisted in reflecting upon these experiences. This preparation provides students with a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between scholarship and the lived experience of citizens of their region, their country, and their world.