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Philadelphia has for years had a problem connecting with college students. City leaders used to sit complacently in their offices complaining about the flight of graduates of local universities.

Now, those leaders are opening their doors to undergraduates eager to get involved.

That could mean that, at last, Philadelphia gets it.

Two groups that cater to students in the city, Campus Philly and the Greater Philadelphia Students Association, have launched a laudable effort to put undergraduates on the boards of many local organizations.

This offers a chance for the city's suits to hear from young people -- a demographic they are longing to please. College students today often write off City Hall as unresponsive on the issues they care about. This is an opportunity for the city's youth to have a voice.

Even better, this partnership should help reverse the course of one of the city's worst diseases: "brain drain." Just 29 percent of the student population sticks around the City of Brotherly Love after they graduate.

Getting as many students as possible to make connections in this city will ultimately lead them to want to stay here once they have diplomas in hand. That is exactly what this program will do.

And history speaks to the value of these connections, especially in the workplace. The Knowledge Industry Partnership has found that 64 percent of students who intern in Philadelphia will stay in the city after graduation. What is more striking is the likely overlooked fact that information technology is the No. 1 field among those who choose to stay.

By bringing students from all over the city face to face with leaders and decision-makers, the Ambassadors Program will send a message that Philadelphia really is open for business.

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