ABSTRACT
The University of Massachusetts in Boston (UMB), the largest public research institution in Boston, shares a partnership with one of the city’s most troubled high schools; the Dorchester Education Complex (DEC) was restructured into three small schools in 2003 after many years of low test scores, a high dropout rate, and a reputation for violence that would not go away. The partnership dates back 40 years and has grown to now include over 20 different programs. The two campuses are four miles apart, connected by public transportation.
