Grant at OSU-OKC to help provide educational pathways, second chances
A new grant will provide educational pathways for individuals undergoing significant life challenges.
OSU-OKC has received a grant from The Inasmuch Foundation in the amount of $475,000 to support educational pathways for Oklahomans with challenged backgrounds. OSU-OKC has spent more than three years building and testing educational pathways to help move Oklahomans with challenged backgrounds toward self-sufficiency and stability by providing postsecondary education and training for people coming out of incarceration, prison diversion programs, addiction recovery programs, homelessness, and foster care.
“Removing barriers to higher education for individuals from challenged backgrounds requires a multi-faceted support system,” said Jackie Weston, senior director of Institutional Grants and Compliance at OSU-OKC. “The generous support of the Inasmuch Foundation will yield significant impacts on the individuals served through this grant.”
These funds will allow approximately 230 individuals to be served through the OSU-OKC Back on Track program. This program supports a partnership with The Curbside Chronicle, which provides individuals who have recently transitioned out of homelessness the opportunity to complete a college certificate or training program. While 72 participants will be given the opportunity to complete OSU-OKC’s Retail Floral Design Certificate program, an additional 160 recently homeless adults and youth will receive customized basic workplace skills training. Additionally, funds will allow OSU-OKC to optimize program success and ensure the ongoing sustainability of the OSU-OKC Center for Social Innovation, which offers justice-involved individuals an intensive nine-month postsecondary experience that positions them to successfully enter the workforce or assimilate into the general student body to continue working toward their chosen degree program. Finally, because unique challenges can arise when working with individuals with challenged backgrounds, funds will also be used to sustain a Health and Wellness Counselor to provide services to students enrolled in these programs and to the OSU-OKC student body.
About Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City (OSU-OKC) is part of the modern land-grant system of Oklahoma State University. OSU-OKC is a two-year public institution, offering more than 40 degrees and certificate options. Through quality education, a supportive environment, leadership training and service opportunities, OSU-OKC trains students to work and educates them to lead. OSU-OKC graduates are found throughout the community serving as police officers, firefighters, nurses, teachers, healthcare professionals and business owners. More information is available at www.osuokc.edu.