A young visitor enjoys the free face painting at the grand opening of the TCC Education Outreach Center in November.
A former convenience store at 21st and Garnett is now Tulsa Community College’s new Education Outreach Center. The soda machine and gas pumps are gone, but the idea of convenience is not. On Nov. 9, TCC dedicated the center at 2201 S. Garnett. The next day, TCC hosted a free public grand opening festival and “Taste of Cultures” lunch at the center.
By providing outreach centers in area neighborhoods, TCC’s goal is to reach prospective students who have traditionally been underrepresented in higher education or who have not had previous members of their family graduate from college. The center is a model program TCC hopes to replicate in other neighborhoods and communities in order to make higher education facilities more approachable and programs more accessible. TCC believes the Education Outreach Center can be the first step many people take in making a college education a reality in their lives.
“The Outreach Center acts as a bridge to any TCC campus. At the center, students can apply, complete college placement testing, enroll in both credit and continuing education classes, get career advisement, financial aid information, and work on homework or take classes,” said Isaac Hiriart, education outreach center coordinator.
The Outreach Center staff can communicate with current and potential students in three languages: English, Spanish and Korean. This semester, TCC offers classes in English as a Second Language and GED preparation. Starting in the spring, Spanish language classes will also be available.
The Education Outreach Center is located at 22nd and Garnett. Parking for the dedication ceremony is available nearby at Loftis Furniture and Morelos Grocery Store.
For more information on the Education Outreach Center, contact Isaac Hiriart at (918) 595-2020.