Focusing on college options
Are you one of the thousands of folks in Lincoln County who’ve earned some college credits over the years but haven’t completed a degree? Oregon Coast Community College wants to meet you.
The college is hosting open house events on Thursday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 24, along with an “on-the-spot admissions” event on Thursday, May 26.
“Every week we hear from adults whose college careers got interrupted by family obligations, work, financial considerations — by life in general,” said Dave Price, OCCC’s vice president for engagement. “The events we’re presenting this month and later this summer are designed for those folks, just as much as they’re meant for more ‘traditional’-aged college students, like those who have recently, or are about to, graduate from high school. With these events, we’re out to take the mystery and the complexity out of college admissions.”
Price said one of OCCC’s greatest strengths has been not just small class sizes and amazing faculty, but also a tremendous mix of backgrounds and ages of students.
“The mix of experiences and backgrounds in our classrooms makes for a more vibrant, engaging, and impactful learning experience,” he said.
At the open houses, potential students can enjoy a no-pressure, no-obligation evening learning about college programs and services. Tours of campus, punctuated by giveaways of various OCCC merch, along with the opportunity to speak one-on-one with faculty and program directors, can go a long way in helping someone decide whether OCCC is the place where they should set about starting, or finishing, their college career.
And, since Thursday, May 19, is the college’s 35th birthday, guests at that open house should keep a keen eye out for any leftover birthday cupcakes!
If you’re ready to take the next step and enroll, the on-the-spot admissions events, featuring live, in-person support, might be a great place to start. Not totally comfortable with long online forms? Here, you’ll find one-on-one help with the online application. Not sure about how your past credits, if any, may contribute to your OCCC transcript? Discuss pre-requisites and get personalized help registering for classes. Not sure how you’ll pay for college? There will be on-site support to provide details about financial aid, scholarships and more. Guests will also get direct access to friendly student success coaches to ensure the classes they’re registering for are the ones they need to pursue their particular goals.
“Whether you seek a one-year certificate, a two-year associate degree or a transfer degree to OSU, Western Oregon University or elsewhere,” Price said, “the OCCC team is there to ensure that when you start here, you can go anywhere!”
The open houses happen from 5:30 to 7 pm on Thursday, May 19, at the Central County Campus in Newport, from 5:30 to 7 pm on Tuesday, May 24, at the North County Center in Lincoln City. The on-the-spot admission events run from 3 to 5 pm on Thursday, May 26, in Newport and Lincoln City. While pre-registration is not required, the college hopes attendees will do so — the first 20 participants to register will receive free OCCC t-shirts. To preregister, go to bit.ly/visitoccc. For more information, call 541-867-8501.