Timely Topics: A Collection of Articles from Literacy Links

Collaboration ... a Paradigm Shift in Adult Education

by Jeanni Pruitt

Col.lab.o.rate (ko-lab o-rat), v. 1. To work together,
especially in a joint intellectual effort. 2. To cooperate

In February 1995, representatives from Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) and Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, a large poultry processing plant located in rural northeast Texas, met to discuss the results of a company and employee needs assessment and task analysis. Some of the educational areas identified in this analysis were:

• Basic computer skills for the workplace;
• Basic workplace math; and
• English as a Second Language (ESL).

Workplace math classes began in May 1995 with 41 employees participating in the project. ESL classes began in September 1995 and were open to all eligible employees at the Mount Pleasant plant site.

The initial workplace literacy project with Pilgrim's Pride Corporation was supported through a national workplace literacy grant funded through the United States Department of Education. Since 1995, the project has grown to include:

• Ten ESL classes held at three Pilgrim's Pride plant locations;
• Three GED classes held in both English and Spanish at two plant locations;
• e-mail and Internet classes for ESL students;
• Citizenship classes; and
• Creative writing and journal writing.

Currently, four NTCC Adult Education instructors teach at the Pilgrim's Pride work site four days a week at a variety of times to meet the needs of corporate students. The college staff actively participates in meetings at which employees suggest ideas for new classes and for improving existing programs.

The Adult Education Coordinator for Pilgrim's Pride, Donna Kuykendall, plans curriculum and works in conjunction with the NTCC staff. Recently, a new orientation and baseline testing format was instituted following an in-service on New Student Orientation. This training workshop, presented by Janell Baker and her staff from North Harris Community College in Houston so inspired both parties that soon after the presentation, NTCC and Pilgrim's Pride staff were meeting to plan implementation of the orientation project.

Orientation of students is a twelve-hour process that follows registration and baseline testing. Orientation includes the following components:

• What is expected of the student;
• Classroom rules and regulations;
• Student portfolios;
• Commitment and motivation;
• Goal setting;
• Student contract; and
• Career and educational counseling.

During the student orientation process, adjustments are made to accommodate individual student's needs. Individualized Educational Plans are implemented in the class and curricu-lum is developed. In addition, students continually assess classes they attend in the work-place project. Class times and dates are arranged to make attendance convenient to workers with various shifts and job obligations.

When funding from the National Workplace Literacy Project ended in 1998, NTCC and Pilgrim's Pride met to discuss continuation of the classes. Pilgrim's Pride wanted to see the program continue and made a financial commitment to fund the project. Six years later, the classes continue to grow and the skills of the workers continue to improve. An interesting aspect of Pilgrim's Pride's educational philosophy is that the company does not necessarily stress work-related content for the classes. Corporation staff believe that if employees are progressing and developing skills that help integrate them as viable contributors to the community, the company is rewarded with happy workers and excellent employees, resulting in increased productivity.

Donna Kuykendall, ESL/Adult Education Coordinator for Pilgrim's Pride, describes the following benefits of collaboration between Northeast Texas Community College and Pilgrim's Pride:

• NTCC provides a wealth of information, texts, instructors, and workshops for Pilgrim's Pride's Adult Education Department;
• Pilgrim's Pride partners are participating in an Adult Education program that has an extremely successful track record;
• Pilgrim's Pride Adult Education Department is able to provide NTCC with needs assessments, training rooms, and partners to fulfill their goals; and
• NTCC provides high quality orientation, pretesting, posttesting, and classroom instruction.

A positive, supportive attitude about education in general has paved the way for a win-win situation for all parties involved. One Pilgrim's Pride workplace student was the Texas Association for Literacy and Adult Education scholarship winner. Another student spoke at a special recognition event hosted by Barbara Bush's literacy effort in Dallas. A third student from Pilgrim's Pride provided the Student Response at the Northeast Texas Community College GED graduation in May 2000. Since implementation of the GED program over three years ago, over 35 students have completed their GED.

Upon completion of each quarter of instruction, informal recognition parties are held at the work site, co-hosted by NTCC and Pilgrim's Pride. Certificates of completion are awarded and refreshments provided. Both parties host special summer cookout events attended by students and their family members.