The Path to a College Degree

The Challenge in Oregon is great: The state has among the lowest high school graduation rates in the nation, and has long struggled to invest in public institutions of higher education. The struggle to enroll in, and graduate from college affects students and families in the lowest socioeconomic brackets the hardest, which can serve to perpetuate inequality and limit economic mobility.

Very low rates of transfer from community colleges to four-year universities exacerbate this problem, and large portions of the state located in “education deserts” can make degree attainment increasingly challenging.

Oregon State University believes that the future of education in Oregon is everyone’s responsibility. For a 21st-century land grant university, that means working with educational institutions in every community across the state to leverage existing resources, expand relationships and support system wide success.

    

Leading the Way to a Brighter Future for all Oregonians

Inspiring Oregonians toward high school completion and college attainment--whether they enroll at Oregon State University or another institution--serves all residents and the state of Oregon as a whole. College degrees are still the fastest way to economic mobility for low socioeconomic status students. Students who earn a bachelor’s degree will make an average of $1M more than those with a high school diploma, and are half as likely to be unemployed APLU

Oregon State University proudly serves as Oregon’s Land Grant University and is the largest university in the state, leading the way in research, education, and service to the residents of Oregon, the nation, and the world. While Oregon State University has over 80 programs serving youth and families on all campuses and counties across the state, we recognize the need to do more. OSU is committed to the residents of Oregon and to making college degree completion more attainable, regardless of the institution the student chooses.

Oregon State University will be a leader in helping every student, parent and family across Oregon to find the right pathway to college, whether that path is to OSU, a community college or another university. OSU will achieve this goal via three objectives:

      

Increasing completion

Collaborate with pre-K-12 partners to help increase the high school completion rate in Oregon in line with the state’s ambitious goal of 100% by 2025.

Reducing barriers

Increase primary and secondary students’ and families’ awareness of and preparation for college while reducing barriers for all students pursuing a college degree.

Earning trust

Earn the trust of Oregon students, families and communities through commitment to student success, strength of academic reputation, and cultivation of reciprocal relationships that span the pre-K-12 continuum.

To achieve these objectives, OSU will focus on three areas:

  1. Awareness: Making parents and students aware that college is possible, while encouraging curiosity, and achievement, and guiding them on their pathways as they prepare early for college
     
  2. Education and enrichment: Offering supplemental educational opportunities for Oregon residents, including classes, programming, camps and workshops for high school students that prepare them for the rigors of the college experience; and Extension, outreach, and engagement programs which provide education to Oregonians where they live and work 
     
  3. Degree attainment: Providing all Oregonians from around the state multiple means and opportunities to obtain a college degree from Oregon State University, including:
    • traditional four-year university pathways
    • programs that combine community college education with seamless transfer into a four-year program
    • innovative offerings via remote education

Examples of our innovative and inclusive approaches include:

Oregon State University connects with thousands of young people and their families each year through a variety of programs and initiatives. Rooted in strong relationships and trust, each effort helps build knowledge and awareness about post secondary college options.

  • The SMILE program has been a partner with rural schools across Oregon for the past 33 years serving 600 students annually through a 4th-12th grade pathway providing college connections and college readiness opportunities in STEM.

  • Open Campus provides local access to education through community-based partnerships and culturally responsive programming in the Oregon communities we serve.

  • Juntos is a partnership with schools and the Oregon State University Extension Service to help students and families understand the Oregon education system and higher education. NInety ___ % of Juntos graduates finish high school and continue on to college. 

OSU Extension Programs provide learning opportunities for nearly 120,000 youth annually through three programs- 4-H, Outdoor School and Open Campus. 

  • 4-H is the largest youth serving program in the nation and promotes positive youth development through a variety of programs across Oregon. Over 75,000 youth engage in both in-school (formal) and out-of-school (non-formal) programs.
  • Outdoor School- Over 90%, approximately 44,000 of Oregon's 5th and 6th graders, participate in Outdoor School, led by the OSU Extension Service. The program also includes the involvement of nearly 5,000 high school student leaders, many of whom seek related careers requiring a college degree.

The Office of Precollege Programs supports and oversees a wide range of youth outreach activities designed to increase college access and academic preparation for Oregon’s youth. Academic programs and youth camps provide pathways to higher education and offer opportunities to enhance college readiness and career awareness.

La Oficina de Programas Preuniversitarios apoya y supervisa una amplia gama de actividades de divulgación para jóvenes diseñadas para aumentar el acceso a la universidad y la preparación académica de los jóvenes de Oregón. Los programas académicos y los campamentos juveniles proporcionan rutas hacia la educación superior y ofrecen oportunidades para mejorar la preparación universitaria y el conocimiento sobre las carreras.

The STEM Academy at Oregon State engages K-12 youth in programs designed to increase college attendance and participation in the STEM fields.

Beaver Hangouts strives to provide every child with an equal opportunity to learn about post-secondary options through the use of technology and near-peer coaching.

Science & Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) is a precollege program at Oregon State University (OSU). SMILE clubs are rural after-school programs that incorporate art, design and communication, and contribute to creative and innovative problem solving. The weekly afterschool club meetings are also testing grounds for teachers to introduce, evaluate and adapt new activities for their regular classrooms.

OSU Talented and Gifted (TAG) Youth Programs provide educationally challenging and dynamic environments enhanced by interaction with adult experts and collaboration with peers.

iInvent

Discovering the Scientist Within (DSW) is a free half-day workshop designed to encourage young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. 

SESEY (Summer Experience in Science and Engineering for Youth) was created to encourage traditionally underrepresented groups to explore the world of engineering and to consider careers in its variety of fields.

  • Oregon State Corvallis, Cascades, Portland, Newport, LaGrande
  • DAPP
  • Ecampus