College and University Connections

There are many colleges and several universities in the vicinity of Kendal~Crosslands Communities (KCC) and KCC has informal connections with many of them. Connections vary from area college faculty members serving on the KCC Board of Directors and the community's research committee to resident involvement in lifelong learning programs to the communities serving as extensions of the classroom setting for students.

Approximately 60 residents participate in the Academy of Lifelong Learning at the University of Delaware in Wilmington, ten miles south of Kendal~Crosslands. Participation includes teaching as well as attending classes and KCC provides transportation to the Academy three times a day during the week. Many residents are active alumni in several local Quaker colleges, including Swarthmore and Haverford.

Kendal~Crosslands has an extensive connection with West Chester University. This includes sponsorship of WCU's integrative health conference since its inception in the year 1999, which residents and staff attend. Residents audit courses at West Chester University and KCC arranges for resident trips to cultural events there on a regular basis. The West Chester University Office of Cultural Affairs has worked closely with KCC to develop and promote these opportunities.

KCC provides learning opportunities for students from a variety of educational settings. The communities host interns, nursing students, and social work students from West Chester University; social work students from Bryn Mawr College’s graduate program; physical therapy students from Widener University; nurse practitioner students from the University of Pennsylvania; and medical fellows from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. KCC has facilitated clerkships for health and medical services administration graduate students from Widener, Temple and St. Joe’s Universities. For more than twelve years, KCC has been a site for vocational explorations for students in the Discover Program from the Chester County Intermediate Unit and recently students from other local school districts.

The KCC human resource department works collaboratively with Lincoln University and Cheyney University to recruit students for part time employment. Tuition reimbursement is available for both part time and full time staff members. For the children of staff, KCC offers the Anne Perry Employment Fund, which pays the wages of 34 student workers during the summer.