Providing Homeless Adults With Advantage

Abstract

A university partnered with the New York City Department of Homeless Services (NYC DHS) to provide cohorts of adults a 60-credit Associate Degree Program in Business Administration over a 2-year period. Results of two cohorts of 30 Advantage Academy Program graduates revealed significant improvement in College Board AccuPlacer (ACPL) Arithmetic results and grade point averages (GPAs) near the 3.0 cumulative average. Eleven Cohort I completers also revealed a significant positive change in self-efficacy based on pre/post-administration of two scales whereas 19 Cohort II completers did not show evidence of such a change. Information is provided for 44 non-completers as well. Eighteen graduates have been employed as managers or in a customer service field related to the business major. With the third cohort graduation completed in May 2014, this is the first comprehensive and sustainable higher education program of its kind for homeless adults to help them end cycles of poverty and agency alliance.