AT&T Contribution To Rose State Provides Summer Bridge Program For College Bound Grads Published April 13, 2017

Rose State College has received a $15,000 contribution from AT&T to facilitate a summer bridge program that helps college bound students test out of developmental courses, such as English, math and reading.

The eight-week program at Rose State, set to begin June 5^th, will focus on an intensive review of the skills necessary for success in college-level courses, with the goal to raise test scores.

“At AT&T we are committed to building a strong workforce in Oklahoma and college readiness is one piece of the puzzle we have identified as a need,” said Jason Constable, AT&T Director of Regulatory and External Affairs. “Giving students the extra guidance they might need is a win-win for the student, the college and the state.”

“Our goal is to help students build their skills and their confidence to ensure their success in college level courses, which should lead to success in their future endeavors,” stated Rose State College English Professor Lacey Veazey-Daniel. “I think we have a strong program in place to reach that goal.”

The Bridge program was utilized at Rose State in 2006 and 2007 with great success. During those sessions an average of 83% of the students enrolled completed the program. Of those students, 82% raised their placement scores in math and English, while 53% raised their scores in reading. Across the board, students saw an average increase of 30% in their placement scores, with students testing out of a total of 154 developmental classes due to their participation in the Bridge program.

“Many students entering college need assistance, especially in mathematics, to prepare them for college-level courses,” stated Dr. Wayne Jones, Dean of the Rose State Engineering and Science Division. “I anticipate this program will have great results, which in turn will give us the impetus to offer more students this opportunity in the future.”

Two classes are set to begin June 5^th, and will last a total of 8 weeks. Day and evening sections will be offered, giving Students the choice to attend class on Monday and Wednesday from 9am to 11:45am, or on Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:45pm.

Each course will be limited to only 48 students, with each group spending an hour and fifteen minutes on one discipline, switching to the other discipline for the second session based upon individual academic need.

Course materials are free to each student signing up for the program, with financial aid available for those seeking assistance with the tuition fees. Students taking advantage of this program will also receive a RSC bookstore gift card, a free orientation session upon program completion, and free placement testing.

Development of academic skills to remove academic deficiencies will be the core goal of the course, with additional focus placed on building a peer community, fostering student relationships, and preparing for the challenges of college.

For further information regarding the Foundations Bridge Program, please visit rose.edu/bridge and contact Lacey Veazey-Daniel at lveazey@rose.edu or at 733-7508