Oregon State University and College Possible partner to support equitable college access and persistence

By Carolyn Boyd, 541-737-1553, [email protected]

Source: Janet Nishihara, 541-737-3928, [email protected]

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State University is expanding its partnership with College Possible, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering students from historically under-invested communities to attend and thrive in college, and develop career pathways.

College Possible works in communities across the nation and began offering its college access programming in Oregon in 2013, according to Janet Nishihara, executive director of OSU’s Educational Opportunities Program. Oregon State and College Possible began collaborating in 2014 focusing on the recruitment of students from historically under-invested communities.

“As a result of systemic inequities in our country, students from groups which have been historically marginalized face many barriers to attending and graduating from college,” Nishihara said. “Oregon State and College Possible are excited to bring together our services supporting previously underserved college students as they work to complete college and move into their working lives.”

Led by Nishihara, the Educational Opportunities Program oversees OSU’s College Possible program, which focuses on student persistence, retention and belonging. EOP also oversees the Dr. Lawrence Griggs Office of Black & Indigenous Student Success, the Dreaming Beyond Borders Resource Center and programming to support students of color, first-generation students and students from low-income backgrounds.

College Possible begins coaching high school juniors and continues until college graduation from a community college or four-year college or university.

The College Possible program is providing a coach to work with Oregon State students located on the Corvallis campus. Coaches work with students on everything from assistance renewing federal loan applications, to connecting with OSU resources, to guidance on college learning strategies.

“Research on persistence and retention consistently demonstrates one key piece of college success: having one person on campus who knows your name and cares about you,” said Cari Allyn Brooks, director of college success at College Possible Oregon. “While countless OSU faculty and staff know and care for our students, the College Possible team serves as a through line from their junior year of high school until they graduate with a bachelor’s degree, no matter how long it takes or how many places they go.”