TCC Holds Dedication for Student Success Center at Metro Campus
Published
Tulsa Community College held a dedication of its new A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Student Success Center at the TCC Metro Campus, made possible by a $2.1 million gift from the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation.
The new facility revolutionizes the student experience – both in-person and virtually – and represents TCC’s effort to remove barriers for students leading to higher graduation rates. In fact, TCC saw the single highest number of graduates this past academic year.
“In developing the Student Success Centers, we recognized the need to help individuals navigate the college experience through increased student services in a way that is not confusing or intimidating,” says Dr. Leigh Goodson, TCC president & CEO. “An added benefit of these Centers is our ability to deliver what students expect, which are services accessible virtually and in-person.”
The Student Success Center model helps the College meet students where they are by removing obstacles. This is especially critical noting TCC’s student population of nearly one in three the first in their family to attend college and roughly 45% from underserved or underrepresented communities.
With a clearly identified starting point and check-in area, students are greeted by staff instead of rows of counters and offices for multiple departments and lines to stand in. The Center includes space for Academic Advising, Career Services, Engagement and Retention, New Student Orientation, and Transfer Student.
“This facility offers support in an intentional and convenient way, where students start college with the end in mind. Meaning, from their very first encounter at TCC, they have a goal – whether that’s to get a work-ready certificate, to earn an associate degree and go into the workforce or continue to a four-year university,” says Caron Lawhorn, TCC Board of Regents chair.
While the Tandy Student Success Center was funded with a gift from the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Foundation, the project was part of the Clearing the Pathway: The Campaign for Completion through the TCC Foundation.
“TCC is fortunate to have such wonderful community support and the success of the $20 million Clearing the Pathway: The Campaign for Completion is an investment to produce work-ready college graduates – both who go directly to the workforce or transfer to complete a bachelor’s degree,” says Kari Shults, vice president for advancement and president of the TCC Foundation.
The Tandy Student Success Center is home to the Governor and Senator Dewey F. Bartlett Academic Advising Center, made possible through support from Tom and Joanie Atkinson. Named after Governor Bartlett, it recognizes Barlett who was instrumental in helping to pass legislation that created Tulsa Junior College, now TCC.
The Tandy Student Success Center is the third center to open with construction on the Herman and Kate Kaiser Student Success Center at the Northeast Campus, funded by a gift from Ruth Nelson and the Herman G. Kaiser Foundation, to wrap by Fall 2022. The Hardesty Student Success Center at West Campus, delayed because of the pandemic, was dedicated in Oct. 2021. The College opened the first Student Success and Career Center at the Southeast Campus in Aug. 2019 with the help of the Vision Tulsa package approved by voters.