"A Real Second Chance"
Gateway: “Something that serves as an entrance or a means of access”
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition 2006
The Gateway to College Program ...
- Is a scholarship program that gives students who are on the verge of leaving high school without a diploma or who have already dropped out of high school a second chance to complete their high school education.
- Targets young people between the ages of 16 and 20 who have not yet realized their full academic potential (high school grade point average is 2.0 or below).
- Can be a life-changing experience for young people who have become discouraged or have disconnected from their goal of earning a high school diploma.
- Is based on an innovative early college model that has shown promising outcomes and represents an innovative solution for a community’s high school dropout crisis. Gateway to College at SCC is funded by a planning and start-up grant provided by Gateway to College National Network and Wal-Mart Foundation. Visit http://www.gatewaytocollege.org for more information, or see our Gateway to College FAQs page for the most frequently asked questions.
On a mission to help solve the
high school dropout crisis
Nationally, about one third of students drop out of high school without earning a diploma.
Gateway to College empowers youth who have dropped out of high school or are not on track to graduate to earn a diploma and dual credit in a supportive college environment.
Gateway to a New Beginning
Gateway to College students at SCC will become part of a learning community thoughtfully designed to suit their academic needs. They will attend classes with like-minded peers who share their goal to earn a high school diploma and their ambition to reach even higher and pursue a college degree, diploma, or certificate. Two learning communities of 26 students each will begin classes in the fall 2009 semester. Students take classes on our SCC academic calendar. During this
Foundation Term, students devote time to building skills in reading comprehension, writing, and mathematics. These classes help them gain confidence in their own academic potential and serve as a launching pad to future academic success.
Find out more about applying to Gateway to College.
Gateway Keys to Success
Students in the Gateway to College program get a big boost because of the many resources that are available to them. Prior to beginning their first classes, students participate in an orientation session to help them better understand the Gateway program and what will be expected of them in college. Gateway to College thrives best when supported by these other keys to success:
Resource Specialists: The students’ resource specialists serve as advisors who provide 1:1 guidance for them from their first day on campus until they complete their high school diploma requirements.
Foundation Term: College skills and career development classes are especially designed to help students navigate the college environment and to identify and work toward career goals.
Learning Community: Students are members of a learning community in a supportive, positive environment during their first semester on campus.
Academic Labs: Weekly academic labs also nurture academic success.
Campus Resources: Other campus-wide resources are available to benefit all students, including those in the Gateway program.
Financial Support: The program is made possible with the strong support of school districts and partnering high schools that sponsor qualified students who reside in their districts.