In today’s economy, even the most qualified college educated professionals are having a difficult time finding and keeping a full-time job. For people without a high school diploma, this task may be simply impossible.
However, to help increase the number of students who will get a high school diploma and even go on to receive a college education, LaGuardia Community College has developed and launched the GED (General Equivalency Diploma) Bridge to College and Careers Project, made possible by recent funding from the MetLife Foundation.
The project is aimed at improving student success in GED courses by developing a curriculum that is based around a student’s career and college goals.
“Students will now be able to develop skills that will help them to transition into college,” said Jane MacKillop, associate dean of academic and career development.
“Even with a GED or a high school diploma, they cannot get a job as easily as they would with a college degree. Doing additional training will really open up the doors,” she added.
While normal GED prep courses focus on helping students to prepare for a series of tests, the project is working to revamp the course to allow students to gain the skills they will need after the course is complete.
“It isn’t aligned with college work and students aren’t ready for college after they take it,” said MacKillop. “Their math and English skills are not where they should be after the test and they don’t move on to college.”
The program is now working to create a curriculum that will enrich the GED test preparation by taking into consideration the level that each student is on.
“It engages each student because it focuses around their interest,” said MacKillop.
The enhanced curriculum will engage students more in the classroom and will improve their likelihood of graduation by grounding their coursework around their career interests and goals.
Coursework within the new curriculum will be linked to career-related activities and skills as well as college preparation and counseling. In addition, students will receive specific support services, including advisement on the college application process and financial aid, along with assistance with occupational research.
As LaGuardia works to develop the new curriculum, they will be able to distribute knowledge gained through this project to more than 60 adult educators, counselors and program coordinators in the five boroughs through workshops and presentations throughout the academic year, to help improve other GED courses outside of their college.
Anyone interested in participating in the project is encouraged to contact Jane MacKillop at 718-482-5302.
