Description of Grant and College Access definitions:

In the spring of 2007, Gordon College received a grant through Massachusetts Campus Compact to research and document programs and organizations in Lynn, Massachusetts that are addressing issues of college access. For the purpose of this project:

College Access is defined as students’ ability to access and achieve success in higher education.

While programs that promote college access among any student population were included in this project, the focus was primarily on programs or organizations that work with Under-represented students:

-Low-income

-First generation in family attending college

-Under-represented minorities

-Students with disabilities

-Students returning to college later in life

Four areas of college access were identified as needs students have in preparing them for post high school education:

--Academic Readiness—anything that prepares a student academically for college success.

                                        Ex: tutoring programs, study skills workshops, college application assistance,

                                        standardized test prep., writing workshops

--Social Readiness—developing a network of social relationships where there is a mentoring component and

                                        college thinking is introduced and encouraged.

                                                    Ex: Mentoring programs, college campus experiences

--College Information Awareness—providing easily available and accessible information on college

                                        options and requirements.

                                        Ex: Translation work, College decision making counseling, parent prep.

--Financial Awareness—fairly informing students of their financial options, counseling in wise financial

                                        decisions, and assisting in form completion.

                                                    Ex: Financial Aid Counseling, Scholarship Assistance

Because of time constraints, not every program or organization in Lynn that promotes students’ ability to access and achieve success in higher education was included in this wiki or added to the print version of the college access document (which can be accessed by clicking on the link below).

You are invited to update and edit all the information on this web site.

 Lynn College Access Working Document.doc