Tulsa Community College recently concluded its three-year participation in Unlocking Opportunity, a national initiative led by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program and the Community College Research Center. As a member of the first cohort, TCC joined a select group of colleges committed to strengthening programs and advising so that more students enter and complete high-opportunity pathways — programs that lead to strong workforce outcomes or successful transfer in a student’s major field of interest.
“Over the past three years, Unlocking Opportunity has helped sharpen our institutional focus on expanding access to high-opportunity programs and reducing barriers that prevent students from completing them,” says Angela Sivadon, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer.
“The results are evident: the percentage of students enrolled in high- or medium-opportunity programs, such as Engineering, Aviation, Business, Dental Hygiene, and Computer Information Systems, has continued to grow substantially every year since beginning the initiative,” adds Lindsay White, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness.
This progress reflects intentional reforms across the College, including:
• Stronger onboarding, advising, and career services to better capture student intent, reduce the number of undecided students, and guide them into clear academic pathways, with differentiated strategies to support populations such as dual credit and Tulsa Achieves students.
• Launching new programs such as Data Analytics and Cybersecurity and expanding Nursing capacity to meet workforce needs.
• New and refined transfer opportunities, including a new pathway in Health Sciences Administration that provides a streamlined route to a bachelor’s degree.
TCC’s work is featured in the newly released Unlocking Opportunity Practice Guide, which highlights effective strategies from participating colleges nationwide. “We are proud not only to have contributed to this national resource, but also to be ‘paying it forward’ by sharing our lessons learned with institutions in the newest cohort,” White says.
Although the formal initiative concluded in December 2025, the work continues. TCC will provide data to the Aspen Institute for at least three additional years and remain actively engaged in the Unlocking Opportunity network through professional development and peer learning opportunities. Just as importantly, the principles of Unlocking Opportunity are now embedded in the College’s new three-year Strategic Plan, where Unlocking Opportunities stands as the first of three articulated priorities, alongside Building Community and Forging Ahead.
“As state and national policy conversations increasingly emphasize post-completion outcomes, workforce alignment, and transfer success, TCC is well positioned,” explains Sivadon. “The foundation built through Unlocking Opportunity ensures that we are not reacting to change — we are prepared for it and helping shape it.
“Our commitment remains clear: expand access to high-opportunity programs, strengthen pathways to completion, and ensure that more students in our community graduate prepared for meaningful careers or continued education,” Sivadon says. “The work of faculty, staff, and supporters across the community has been essential in advancing this effort.”
Unlocking Opportunity is not a project that ended. It is a commitment that continues.