Tim Stanley
Tulsa World Staff Writer
Improving the chances of underserved students to stay in college and complete a degree is the goal of what Tulsa Community College officials say is the largest federal research grant in the school’s history.
TCC announced on Tuesday that it has been selected to receive $3,717,502 through the U.S. Department of Education’s Postsecondary Student Success Grant program to fund evidence-based strategies to improve retention and completion rates for underserved and underrepresented students.
TCC is one of nine institutions selected for the grants and the only one in Oklahoma.
TCC officials made the announcement at a news conference held at TCC’s Northeast Campus.
Paula Settoon, TCC dean of libraries and knowledge management, said: “What makes this grant different from other grants TCC has received is that it is a research grant. We will be expected to publish and share what we learn. More importantly, this initiative will contribute significantly to advancing the mission of TCC, which is ‘Building success through education.’”
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Over four years of the study, TCC will track 500 students majoring in social sciences, helping them get off to a good start and then offering supports to their progress.
It includes redesigning TCC’s First Year Experience course to include a focus on the intended major and new “Smart Start” sessions. Students will receive specific information about their program of interest, meet the program faculty, and learn about the requirements and the academic rigor from someone in the program.
“This grant will allow faculty in the classrooms to have true conversations with students about what kind of job you can get with your degree and what pathway you should follow to be successful in your chosen career,” said Angela Sivadon, TCC senior vice president and chief academic officer. “By offering students information that focuses on their chosen major, students will be more informed about what to expect as they advance in their education and career.”
Officials said that because TCC is a large, multi-campus institution serving a diverse population — 27% are first-generation students, 47% are people of color, and 41% are low-income — it is distinctly situated to test the proposed intervention and provide insight for other institutions.
Support for students in the study will be included in the grant, with funds for laptops, hotspots and data plans, as well as JobsEQ User Licenses for academic advisers and interactive data dashboards. Additionally, the grant covers salaries for personnel, including activity managers, Smart Start orientation coordinators, career navigators and faculty coordinators, and faculty stipends.
“This remarkable achievement underscores our commitment to student success and creating an environment where all students can thrive,” said TCC CEO and President Leigh Goodson. “I extend my deepest gratitude to every partner involved in this transformative endeavor. This is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire TCC community.”
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