New Haven Independent

John Padilla, a senior associate at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, provided the boost in the form of a $100,000 check to Gateway Community College to launch three “learning communities” on campus aimed at some 75 students facing special challenges staying in school.

The students, broken into three classes, will “bond” together as they receive special tutoring on their course work as well as help finding jobs, clean up their financial credit, or prepare their taxes, said Gateway President Dorsey Kendrick. (She’s pictured with Padilla at a ceremony at Gateway Thursday.)

“One of the big reasons older community college students drop out is” personal financial problems, Padilla said.

Another target group of the pilot program, which begins Jan. 1: recent high school groups who enter Gateway already needing extra academic help to succeed in their courses.

Three-quarters of the Casey donation will target students in general education programs at Gateway. The rest will directly target allied health and nursing students. Casey is working with Eli Whitney Technical to beginning steering students toward those in-demand job in high school.