Eight low-wage participants are pioneering the next step in the Cincinnati Works jobs program by going to college.

        The effort, called College Works, began last week at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College.

        “These are people who want better jobs and for that they need a better education,” Bruce Stoecklin, Cincinnati State spokesman, said Monday. “That's what they're coming here for.”

        College Works chose the candidates, Cincinnati State provides the courses and Cincinnati-based KnowledgeWorks Foundation is paying the initial tuition.

        Mr. Stoecklin said the students are focusing on bringing their math, reading and writing skills up to the college level.

        Then they'll start college-credit courses in their areas of interest.

        Cincinnati Works started in 1996 and is supported by local firms, foundations and individuals.

        Jane Howie, a job-finder at Cincinnati Works, said about 800 people have taken the program's job readiness instruction and 725 found full-time jobs with benefits.

        All eight students in the initial effort have held jobs for at least a year and want to go to college if that's what it takes to advance, Miss Howie said. All wrote essays on their goals and most had tried college, she added. Their ages range from mid-20s to early 40s.

        “All of them are interested in degrees,” Miss Howie said, and they've agreed to take initial classes and study together Friday nights and Saturday mornings during the first three terms.

        That allows them to support one another, something “every student really needs when they start out at school,” she continued. “Some of them have been out of school for a while and have a little bit of nerves about going back to school.”

        KnowledgeWorks is providing about $175,000 over two years for the College Works program at Cincinnati State. It will cover about 40 students a year.

        Each student will be subsidized for up to 13 credits.

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