The Foreword, titled “Weaving Service-Learning and Peer Advocacy into Developmental Education Courses” demonstrates how Connect2Complete (C2C) is a program for community college students, which encourages academic development, social integration, personal development, and civic consciousness—all key factors for student success. Through two distinct strategies—course-based peer-to-peer advocacy and peer-assisted service-learning—C2C supports vulnerable students in achieving academic success and credential completion while they actively engage with their peers, their college, and their broader community. To implement ambitious C2C pilot projects, Campus Compact, through the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, funded nine community colleges in Florida, Ohio, and Washington, along with the Compact’s related state affiliates. Between January 2012 and June 2014, these programs engaged more than 6,500 low-income, underprepared students. Fall 2012 to Spring 2013 retention rates were 3 to 16 percent higher for C2C students than for the comparison groups of similar students not benefitting from the C2C program.

Through this report, one can see how C2C is a cutting-edge program that supports low-income community college students in achieving their goals. Through C2C, nine community colleges have translated the needs and interests of students, faculty, and local community members in innovative ways and transformed the meaning and value of community for each college campus.

The Foreword: Weaving Service-Learning and Peer Advocacy into Developmental Education Courses is a report of the lessons from C2C implementation reflected from the pilot campuses.