The Vassar Education Collaboration (VEC) has been building reciprocal partnerships between Vassar College and the Poughkeepsie City School District since 2003.
The Vassar Education Collaborative (VEC), housed within Vassar College's Office of Community-Engaged Learning, partners with the Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) to expand educational opportunities for children and youth through sustained academic support, mentoring, college access, family engagement, and community partnerships.
About the VEC
Grounded in the principles of community-engaged learning and educational equity, VEC programs complement school-day instruction by providing relationship-based, evidence-informed educational experiences that address barriers to academic success and strengthen students’ pathways from middle school through high school to postsecondary success. Working collaboratively with school administrators, teachers, families, and community partners, VEC creates a continuum of support that promotes academic achievement, social-emotional development, school engagement, and post high school life readiness for children and youth across Poughkeepsie.
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Our Goals
- Provide consistent mentoring, enrichment, and leadership opportunities for Poughkeepsie students through after-school and in-school programs.
- Increase access to Vassar’s campus resources by coordinating student participation in cultural events, offering targeted academic support, and facilitating
- Support students in reaching high school graduation and postsecondary goals through structured mentorship, college and career exposure, and skill-building activities.
- Build and maintain partnerships with local schools, families, and community organizations through regular communication, shared planning, and ongoing program collaboration.
- Support Vassar students in practicing community-engaged learning that applies academic knowledge in ways that are relational, reciprocal, and justice-centered.
Core Programs
The Vassar After School Team (VAST) is a free after-school academic enrichment and mentoring program for Poughkeepsie Middle School students. Meeting on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout the school year, VAST provides a safe, supportive environment where students receive homework assistance, individualized tutoring, mentoring, and hands-on enrichment activities.
Exploring College is an after-school college and post-secondary readiness program for Poughkeepsie High School students. Meeting three afternoons each week, the program helps students prepare for life beyond high school through one-on-one mentoring, academic support, college and career workshops, financial aid and application guidance, leadership development, and community-building. Supported by Vassar student mentors, students gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue their postsecondary goals.
The Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program (VELLOP) partners with the Poughkeepsie City School District to support multilingual learners in classrooms across the district. Vassar student tutors work alongside classroom teachers during the school day, providing individualized and small-group academic support in content-area classes. Through relationship-based tutoring and language support, VELLOP helps students strengthen their English language development, build academic confidence, and access meaningful learning opportunities across the curriculum.