The State of Oregon announced that it has awarded a $43,110 grant to Oregon Institute of Technology’s Oregon Tech Rural Outreach for College Access (Oregon Tech ROCA) project that will support rural, first generation and low income students in their aspirations to attend college. Funded through a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education received by Oregon in August, this award is part of the College Access Challenge Grant (CACG) program that awarded grants to 20 pre-college preparation programs across the state for a total of $915,000 in support.
The Oregon Tech ROCA project will provide college access and success workshops on high school campuses, offer selected students scholarships for Advance Credit Program classes and mentoring from an Oregon Tech student leader, and give an opportunity for the students, their parents, and teachers to particulate in a program on the Oregon Tech Klamath Falls campus.
“Oregon Tech Rural Outreach for College Access is an important extension of our work with the High School Dual Credit Program,” said Bradley Burda, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Oregon Institute of Technology. “Oregon Tech recognizes the importance of this program – to prepare students and to help the State reach the 40-40-20 goal.”
Oregon Tech will work with at least nine rural high schools in Baker, Crook, Klamath, Lake and Union counties. Besides the $43,110 provided by the grant, Oregon Institute of Technology will provide an additional $38,058 in matching funds to run the program.
Stephanie Carnahan, director of college access programs for the Oregon University System, said, “There is a great need in Oregon for pre-college programs that help students and families understand how to access college in a comprehensive way, from academic preparation to understanding how financial aid works. Oregon Tech ROCA is a great example of the type of support that all Oregon students need in order to ensure that they can access college and be academically and otherwise prepared to succeed in their education and career goals.”
The College Access Challenge Grant Program (CACG) is a formula grant program that is designed to foster partnerships among Federal, State and local government entities, and philanthropic organizations to significantly increase the number of underrepresented students who enter and remain in postsecondary education. CACG provides grants to States to meet the needs of underrepresented students and families. In Oregon, all education sectors and the Governor’s Office are involved in the CACG, and the Oregon University System is the fiscal agent for the grant.
About Oregon Tech
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, Oregon Institute of Technology is one of seven institutions in the Oregon University System, and the only public institute of technology in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon Tech provides degree programs in engineering and health technologies, management, communications and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public and international communities through hands-on learning. Oregon Tech’s main campus is in Klamath Falls; other sites are located in Portland, La Grande and Seattle. Oregon Institute of Technology is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about Oregon Institute of Technology.
