Beginning with Literacy Needs: Community College Program Development that Considers Individual Students' Contexts

As community college enrollments continue to rise, the role of the college in the community expands to keep pace. Yet, academic programs designed to meet the needs of an ever more diverse population often lag behind. Traditionally, college has been a place for students to open doors to diverse ideas; here, students bring diversity with them, along with a rich mix of cultures and experiences, to the mutual advantage of fellow students and teachers. Despite the challenge of addressing individual student needs, a focus on a strong literacy component can lead to a successful overall college experience, particularly if individual literacy needs are considered in program design.