ABOUT US
WHAT IS A WORK COLLEGE?
Work Colleges are an exceptional group of four-year, degree granting, liberal arts institutions that engage students in the purposeful integration of work, learning, and service. Unique to work colleges is the requirement that all resident students participate in a comprehensive-work-learning service program for all four years of enrollment. Therefore, all resident students have jobs. Most students work at on campus jobs, while some students hold off-campus positions. Students are given responsibility, relied upon, and gain valuable work experience, while reducing the cost of education. The work college model is student-centered and designed to enhance and enrich the educational experience.
The members of the Work Colleges Consortium are: Alice Lloyd College, Berea College, Blackburn College, College of the Ozarks, Kuyper College, Paul Quinn College, Sterling College, and Warren Wilson College.
UNIFIED BY PURPOSE
OUR WORK COLLEGE MEMBERS
There are currently ten federally recognized Work Colleges, and eight are members of the Work Colleges Consortium. These institutions are small, private, liberal arts colleges with modest enrollments that range from about 150 to approximately 1,600 students. Each school is unique and operates the work program in a slightly different fashion. However, “work-learning-service” is a central component of each work college. Student work, coupled with robust academics and a spirit of service, is the common denominator shared by all the work colleges.
Pippa Pass, Kentucky
Berea, Kentucky
Bloomington, Minnesota
Carlinville, Illinois
Point Lookout, Missouri
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Dallas, Texas
Craftsbury Common, Vermont
Asheville, North Carolina
Each work college is unique and has its own distinct mission and focus and offers a variety of academic majors. Some colleges offer a broad range of choices while others have a very specific focus. The colleges may be large (1600 students) or small (120 students), and they are located in urban, residential, small town or more rural settings. As a Consortium, we appreciate the differences among each school and value our ability to learn from one another, support one another, and come together over those things which we share in common. All Work Colleges are approved and overseen by the U.S. Department of Education and must meet specific federal regulations for operation.