Citing a lower than average rate of bachelor's degree attainment for students who transfer from two-year to four-year colleges and universities, leaders of Tulsa-area institutions of higher education came together Tuesday to announce new transfer agreements in an attempt to help more students graduate.
"We can improve to be a better institution for transfer students, and that means TCC sending students to universities, and universities receiving Tulsa Community College students," said Dr. Leigh Goodson, TCC President.
Goodson said a higher rate of bachelor's attainment will be a boon for the local economy.
"Oklahoma and Tulsa are below the national average in the number of bachelor's degrees obtained. We know that through our workforce studies done by the Tulsa Regional Chamber that we need more bachelor's degree attainment in the community to fulfill our workforce needs for employers," Goodson said.
The Tulsa Transfer Collaborative, which is supported by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, includes TCC, Langston University, Northeastern State University, OSU–Tulsa, Rogers State University, OU–Tulsa, and the University of Tulsa.
"As the Tulsa metro’s four-year regional university, we welcome the opportunity to participate in this historic partnership aimed at improving student success for transfer students,” said Dr. Larry Rice, RSU president, in a statement.
“OSU is committed, through our Linked Degree initiative with TCC, to providing a cohesive four-year public university experience in Tulsa,” said Dr. Pamela Fry, president of OSU-Tulsa, in the same statement. “These transfer agreements help students set their academic goals, make plans to reach those goals, graduate and succeed in career and life.”
