Tulsa, Okla. And Washington , December 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ —
The following is written by Lee GoodsonPresident and CEO of Tulsa Community CollegeMember of the American Association of Community Colleges.
Lee B. Goodson, President and CEO of Tulsa Community College. Photography by Shane Beville
Community colleges embrace students from all walks of life. In fall 2022, 27% of students in Tulsa Community College (TCC) were first-generation college students, and approximately half of the student body represented non-white communities. Many of these students do not come from affluent socioeconomic backgrounds, giving community colleges a unique opportunity to not only support students in their academic endeavors but also help them build the social skills necessary to create connections and networks vital to success when they enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year university.
The concept of social capital was introduced to me by TCC Assistant Professor of Science and Aviation Mona Easterling. It refers to the networks, relationships, and resources that individuals create through social connections, and is an essential component of success beyond the classroom and enabling students to achieve lifelong fulfillment. Mona made a strong case for our vital role in building social capital, especially building equity to support our low-income and minority student groups.
TCC creates social capital on its campuses through mentorship programs, workforce partnerships, community engagement, and through initiatives such as the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Pathways Project and Opening Opportunities. Evolving beyond its goal of providing high-quality, affordable education, TCC prepares students to create their own social capital.
Mentorship strengthens support networks
One way TCC helps students create social capital is through its many mentorship programs. When our staff connect with students, they provide support, instill knowledge and encourage them to succeed.
Kelly parsley, a TCC graduate, explains how mentorship is a catalyst for social capital that provides exceptional opportunities. Juggling the responsibilities of being a single mother of five with the challenges of being a first-generation college student, Kelly, a Cherokee citizen, decided to begin her academic journey at TCC with the goal of becoming a doctor for her tribe, so she could help people who come from The same background as you come from. She found support through TRIO Student Support Services, a federally funded grant program that provides academic advising, tutoring, career services, and a wealth of emotional support and valuable relationships that are difficult to quantify. Her TRIO advisor was the first person to provide guidance during her academic journey but he was not the last.
During her time at TCC, Kelly served as president of the TRIO Student Association, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and TCC’s Honors Scholar Program, and founded Motivated Scholars, an organization that creates opportunities for Honors students to connect and inspire each other. Several TCC mentors, including professors with whom she had built strong relationships, wrote letters of recommendation and guided Kelly through the application process for the prestigious and highly competitive Cooke Undergraduate Scholarship from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. Kelly was one of 60 people in the country selected to receive a scholarship worth up to $1,000 $55,000 Annually to complete the bachelor’s degree. I graduated from TCC with three associate degrees and began studying at University of Tulsa This fall.
She stays in touch with her TCC TRIO advisor, professors, and mentors – all of whom play an integral role in guiding her toward success and the growth of her social capital. Her journey demonstrates the pivotal role mentoring can play in leading a student toward academic success and how effective creating these relationships can be in personal and professional advancement.
Create professional connections through workforce partnerships
TCC is deeply rooted in Tulsa community and has established countless partnerships with the workforce in industries such as manufacturing, cybersecurity, and business, designed to give students additional opportunities for work-based learning and industry-specific training. These partnerships not only enhance students’ skills, but bring students and industry professionals together to create networking opportunities and the possibility of meeting future employers. According to research by LinkedIn, more than 70% of professionals are hired by companies where they already have relationships.
By leveraging workforce partnerships, students gain social capital and access to skills and knowledge that employers seek. This creates professional relationships early, enhances students’ employability, and creates a smooth transition into the workforce after they complete their studies.
Create connections with community service
At TCC, we know that community is our middle name. As the state’s largest community college, we serve approximately 20,000 students annually on four main campuses throughout Tulsa We take pride in how our students give back to their community. Community service increases civic engagement, social networking, and builds confidence and a sense of belonging in students, all of which are critical components of social capital.
We build community through Tulsa Achieves Scholarship students’ service work, service-learning courses, clubs, and student organizations. Tulsa Achieves Scholarship students are required to complete 40 hours of volunteer service per academic year to maintain eligibility for the program. Our students have volunteered with the food bank in Eastern OklahomaFood on the Move, Tulsa Area United Way, Tulsa Animal Welfare, and many other places throughout Tulsa Which provides them with opportunities to interact with a variety of organizations and individuals.
Providing clear pathways for students
Through our participation in the American Association of Community Colleges’ Pathways Project, which began in 2015, TCC creates and articulates pathways to gainful employment or transfer to a four-year university. Beyond that, TCC has overhauled support services to help students set goals and gain the knowledge and skills needed to pursue their chosen path.
The Pathways Project has helped TCC make significant progress in enhancing the student experience, resulting in the largest enrollment of graduates in the college’s history during the 2021-2022 academic year, a commendable 25% increase in the number of credentials awarded from the previous five years, and a 10% increase Percentage points in graduation rate over the past decade.
Improve long-term results by unlocking opportunities
TCC will implement strategies to build students’ social capital through its participation in Opening Opportunities, a 10-college network organized by the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program and its partners in the Community College Research Center. In spring 2023, TCC was selected to participate in the initiative focused on improving post-graduate outcomes for students through years of reforms and comprehensive assessment.
The network, which is conducting research from 2023 through 2028, will see thousands of students of diverse races, backgrounds, and socioeconomic status enter and complete programs that lead directly to jobs that pay a sustainable wage or to the efficient completion of a bachelor’s degree.
In the first three years, TCC will set clear goals, develop strategies for improvement, and begin implementing those strategies with the help of coaches and learning sessions. In the next three years, CCRC and Aspen You will monitor student journeys and produce compiled research, tools and case studies to share with member institutions. By opening opportunities, TCC will create new opportunities for students to create and expand their social capital.
Commitment to student success
TCC has a reputation for helping students overcome financial obstacles and prepare for a rigorous academic curriculum so they can achieve their educational and career goals on time and within budget. But TCC doesn’t stop at providing education – we’re committed to seeing students join the workforce. The networks they build, the relationships they cultivate, and the opportunities they access can greatly shape their careers and contributions to their families and families. Tulsa Community.
America’s community colleges uniquely serve more than 10 million students annually, providing critical access to higher education in both academic and workforce development. As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) provides educational and economic opportunities to more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. AACC member colleges are uniquely dedicated to the access and success of all students, providing a path to degree access, skilled trades, and family-sustaining wages. located in Washington, DCAACC calls on these public-serving nonprofits to ensure they have the resources and support they need to achieve the mission of increasing economic mobility for all.
Source: American Association of Community Colleges
