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Gateway to College Foundation Term
Students can enter Gateway to College in any term when an initial Foundation term is offered. New students take four required classes as a group; the typical learning community size is 20 to 25 students. More than one Foundation learning community may be offered in any particular term and the flexible features allow Foundation terms to be offered in both the day and evening. The four required classes of the Foundation term are:
- Reading (Reading 90 at PCC, a developmental education class; students receive high school credit and nontransferable college credit)
- Writing (Writing 90 at PCC, a developmental education class; students receive high school credit and nontransferable college credit)
- Math (Math 20 at PCC, a developmental education class; students receive high school credit and nontransferable college credit)
- College Survival and Success (CG 100 at PCC; students receive high school credit and transferable college credit)
During the transition term to the comprehensive campus, students take Career Development (CG 140 at PCC; students receive high school credit and transferable college credit).
The reading, writing and math courses are taught by Gateway to College instructors specifically hired for their interest and experience in working with at-risk youth. Instructors meet all college requirements, including a master's degree in the subject area.
The two counseling and guidance courses are taught by Gateway to College resource specialists who also meet the college's requirements for teaching. When resource specialists are teaching a course, they are paid as adjunct faculty. The instructors and resource specialists work together to support new students throughout their time in the Gateway to College program.
There are a number of goals for students during the Foundation term. Students are building academic skills, of course, but they are also acclimating to the college environment. With the help of their team of instructors and resource specialists, students begin to learn that they can have positive, trusting relationships with caring adults interested in their educational goals. Students learn to develop good academic habits including time management, note taking, and test taking skills. In the College Survival and Success class, students are introduced to college resources including the library, computer labs, and tutoring centers. In the Career Development course, students explore career areas and pathways (majors) relating to their personal interests.
Another element of the Foundation term is the academic lab. Students take their four courses Monday through Thursday, and on Friday they participate in a required academic lab. The lab is led by a content specialist who models how to do the week's homework, how to ask questions about confusing materials, and works individually with students to ensure that they understood the week's work. The academic lab focuses on reading, writing, and math. Students often think they understand the concepts presented during class, but go home and find they cannot do the homework, or connect their understanding to original work. The academic lab allows them to practice skills and demonstrate success.
Students work closely with their resource specialist to identify issues that are getting in the way of their success and to develop plans to resolve these issues. Students may be connected to community resources such as housing, healthcare, or crisis intervention, or they may be directed to specialized tutors. Because resource specialists teach the Foundation term counseling and guidance courses, they have the opportunity to get to know students and to observe their behavior in class, monitor their attendance and homework performance, and gain a feel for each student's personal challenges.
Testing and transition readiness are also elements of the Foundation term. Toward the end of the term, students take a placement test to determine their placement in reading, writing and math courses for the next term. About half of Gateway to College students are ready to transition to 100-level (transfer-level) courses after the Foundation term; the rest may need to take another developmental education-level math or reading course after the Foundation term. Students also take statewide K - 12 benchmark exams in reading, writing and math during the Foundation term.
After successfully completing all four Foundation classes with a "C" or better, students transition to the comprehensive campus, taking courses with the general student population. Resource specialists continue to support Gateway to College students throughout their time in the program, which generally lasts one to three years depending on the number of high school credits students need to complete and their age when entering the program. Students in good standing remain in Gateway to College until they complete their requirements for the high school diploma or turn 21.
Gateway to College National Network
Portland Community College, Southeast Center
Mt. Scott Hall, Room 106
2305 SE 82nd Ave.,
Portland, OR 97216
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