The document summarizes an Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA program called the Hocking College Youth Tutoring Program. The program was developed to address poverty in Athens County, Ohio by increasing access to higher education. It mobilizes Hocking College students to tutor elementary school children in reading and math, helping prepare them for high school graduation and college. Since 2010, over 500 children have been tutored for 2,200 hours total. Evaluations show tutoring is improving student performance and confidence. Both children and college students benefit from the program.

1. Engaging campuses in service to the community
Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Impact Report: Hocking College
Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA strategically connects college resources with
communities in need. Corps members gainkkk
valuable experience and educational awards.
Campuses expand their civic outreach. And community partners receive critical support.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND Poverty Alleviation Focus Area: College Access
Athens County, where Hocking College is located, is For more information contact:
part of Appalachian Ohio and is a historically VISTA Corps member: Ben Hastil
poverty-stricken county that currently faces an (740) 753-6519 • hastilb@hocking.edu
unemployment rate of over 30%. For the county's Site Supervisor: Suzanne Brooks-Korner
youth, higher education is a significant pathway out (740) 753-7111 brooks_s@hocking.edu
of poverty, yet, only 7% of residents age 25 and over Ohio Campus Compact VISTA Sr. Program Director:
in this region of Ohio have an associate's degree and Lesha Farias (740) 587-8571 • lesha.farias@gmail.com
only 15% have a bachelor's degree. www.ohiocampuscompact.org
Since July 2010, Ohio Campus Compact VISTA
member Ben Hastil has developed and coordinated
the Hocking College Youth Tutoring Program, a
community program developed as a college access
and anti-poverty initiative for the elementary school
children in the county.
The program’s vision is to increase the number of
local elementary school children who will graduate
from high school and who are prepared for,
interested in, and accepted to college. The program
is doing this by mobilizing Hocking College students
to tutor younger students at local schools and after-
school programs, on the fundamental reading and
math skills that they need to succeed in school. Ohio Campus Compact VISTA member Ben Hastil
Additionally, the program is providing these tutoring has developed and coordinates the Hocking College
services for free, at no cost to the children, schools, Youth Tutoring Program, a community program
or after-school programs. developed as a college access and anti-poverty
initiative for the elementary school children in Athens
“The tutors are working one-on-one and in small groups County, Ohio. Through the program, Hocking
with our students. We have seen our students stay on College students are trained and placed as youth
task longer, be neater with their work, work more tutors at local elementary schools and after-school
independently and with increased self-esteem, and score programs, where they provide tutoring to elementary
higher on tests. This program has been a huge benefit to school children on the fundamental reading and math
our children and building.” ---LINDY DOUGLAS, skills that the children need to succeed in school.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, Nelsonville-York
Elementary School

2. COMMUNITY IMPACT
In the 10 months since the Hocking College Youth Tutoring
Program was initiated, the program has trained and sent 28
The VISTA Impact
by the numbers:
Hocking College students as tutors to seven local elementary
schools and five after-school program sites. These Hocking
College students have provided over 2,200 hours of tutoring HC Youth Tutoring Program
to more than 500 elementary school children on essential
Children tutored: 521
reading and math skills.
Disadvantaged children
Program evaluation by the schools and after-school programs, with tutored: 346
which the Hocking College Youth Tutoring Program partners, has (On free/reduced school lunch rolls)
shown that the program’s tutors have consistently been able to Hours of tutoring provided: 2,240
improve the performance of the students that they have been tutoring. Average weekly # of hours of
Specifically, the teachers and after-school program coordinators have tutoring completed by tutors: 70
reported that their elementary school students have shown
increased confidence about their ability to succeed in school, Tutors placed in community: 28
a greater ability to complete their schoolwork independently, # of schools tutors served at: 7
and improved test scores.
# of after-school programs
By mobilizing college students to work with younger students to help tutors served at: 5
them succeed in school, this program has increased local elementary
school children’s likelihood of graduating from high school, and of
being prepared for and accepted to college. Additionally, by providing “The program has provided a huge
elementary school children with a college student role-model, the opportunity for our students to gain valuable
program can help increase the children’s interest in pursuing higher skills and hands-on leadership experience.” --
education. -SUZANNE BROOKS-KORNER,
COORDINATOR, Hocking College
Community Outreach Center
CAMPUS IMPACT
Hocking College students participating in this program have gained About Ohio Campus Compact
valuable experience working in our education system and with young
children, empowering educational and interpersonal skills, and a
AmeriCorps*VISTA
greater involvement and investment in the community. They have Ohio Campus Compact is a statewide nonprofit
completed a three-hour training for new tutors, listened to and coalition of colleges and university presidents and
engaged with speakers from Athens County Children Services, the their campuses working to promote the civic
Edward Stevens Center for the Study and Development of Literacy purposes of higher education. Ohio Campus
and Language, and Nelsonville-York Elementary School, and received Compact provides resources, services &
professional development reviews. partnerships to help Ohio campuses deepen their
ability to educate students for civic and social
Overall, 28 Hocking College students served as youth tutors responsibility and to improve community life.
in the program, providing over 2,200 hours of tutoring.
AmeriCorps*VISTA is the national service program
SUSTAINING THE PROGRAM INTO THE FUTURE designed specifically to fight poverty. Founded as
Volunteers in Service to America in 1965 and
Because of the program’s utilization of a volunteer-driven model and
incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of
its partnership with Hocking College and local public schools, the programs in 1993, VISTA has been on the front
program will be able to continue to provide youth tutors to the lines in the fight against poverty in America for
community, even without the leadership of an Ohio Campus Compact more than 40 years.
VISTA member. A coordinating committee of Hocking College staff,
Hocking College students, and local public school officials will provide The Ohio Campus Compact AmeriCorps*
leadership for the program in the future. VISTA Program places and supports VISTAs who
create and expand programs designed to bring
In order to ensure that the program will be able to not only sustain, individuals and communities out of poverty. VISTAs
but increase the quality and quantity of tutoring that is provided in the serve in the poorest areas of their communities to
future, dedicated programmatic leadership for the program from tackle poverty-related problems such as hunger and
Hocking College, or a local public school or after-school program will homelessness, financial literacy, veteran student
likely be necessary. services, public health and college access. More
information at: www.ohiocampuscompact.org