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Student Support After the Foundation Term
Gateway to College students develop close relationships with their resource specialist, generally the same person throughout their time in the program (which ranges from one to three years, depending on a student's age and number of credits when they enter). Some students need more interaction than others, or need more intensive support at certain times, but every student sees his or her resource specialist several times per term. Struggling students have weekly contact and must engage in "success contracts" to identify their challenges and choose strategies to address them. Resource specialists also advise students on class choices, and handle registration for Gateway students each term.
Each student chooses a pathway or major during their Foundation term, and their resource specialist helps them understand which courses they must take to satisfy both their high school diploma requirements and their pathway requirements, so that no credits are wasted. Students focus on common core classes first, in case they decide to change their pathway. Resource specialists also ensure that students get their requirements out of the way within a reasonable period of time, both to ensure that they don't make poor choices such as delaying all of their math classes to the end, and to give them the basic foundational prerequisites they need in order to take a series of more demanding courses leading toward their educational goals.
This ongoing support is critical. Students credit consistent support from their resource specialist as the most important element of their success. Each learning community of students is assigned a resource specialist, who generally remains with a student for their entire Gateway to College experience. Many students stay in touch with their resource specialist long after their graduation from Gateway to College. Although the resource specialists focus on helping students identify a variety of supportive individuals and other resources in their lives, the "home base" of the resource specialist is fundamental to the Gateway to College model. Resource specialists carry a caseload of about 60 to 70 students. At any one time, approximately 20 are new students (who require intensive support) and the others fall at all points along a continuum of need and length of time in the program.
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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