University and Community College Partnership: Building Teaching Capacity to Increase Underserved Student Success

Abstract

Postsecondary institutions need well-prepared instructors to equip students for changing economic and social realities, instructors who are also trained to address the learning needs of the many students who enter college unprepared to learn and persevere in a program of study. Unlike teacher preparation for kindergarten through twelfth grade, a preservice internship component is seldom seen in preparation for developmental education instructors for community colleges. This article details evidence-based components that should be included in effective literacy programs that prepare Developmental Reading Instructors (DRIs). Next, illustration of how community colleges actualize these evidence-based components is accomplished through analysis of similarities and differences among curricular offerings. Following this, a partnership between a four-year institution and several community colleges is examined demonstrating models of internship experiences for future DRIs. Description of the partnerships concludes with success stories from community college faculty supervisors.