Tulsa Community College is one of just a few schools chosen for a new program to help boost graduation rates.
"We were one of just 30 community colleges in the nation selected and the only college in Oklahoma," said TCC President Leigh Goodson. "This national initiative is about raising graduation rates across the country by building a better model for community colleges to follow."
The Pathways Project’s goal is to give students a clear path from high school graduation to their chosen careers. That could involve some changes in academic programs and student support services at TCC.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation–funded Pathways Project seeks to help students graduate college by giving them a clear course of study toward a chosen career. Goodson said the program bridges a gap in thinking about life after high school.
"This isn't just about coming to college. It's about going through college," Goodson said.
Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett said TCC has been an integral part of preparing local students to join the workforce.
"And by [receiving] this grant, it puts them up in a very, very high — I would say a stratosphere — of what Tulsa Community College's reputation is, which is extraordinary," Bartlett said.
Participating schools are in a variety of settings in 17 states, and their enrollment numbers range from 3,000 to nearly 60,000.
