Midland College introduces College and Career Connections (C3), a collaborative initiative with Midland Independent School District (MISD) and local philanthropic organizations. The program aims to instill a culture of college and career readiness starting at the sixth-grade level, facilitating a smooth transition from high school to various post-secondary education and career pathways available through Midland College and across the Permian Basin.
“The primary objective of C3 is to ensure that students are well-prepared for success in college and their professional lives,” said Lori Haltom, Executive Director of the C3 program. “We see this as an evolving collaboration that provides the resources needed to guarantee Midland students make a purposeful transition from high school to college, the workforce, or military service.”
Students will be paired with a C3 coach who will guide them with necessary tools and support for a successful journey after high school. While MISD counselors will continue providing comprehensive services across the district, C3 coaches will focus on working with MISD students in grades 6-12. They will inform students and their families about dual credit and post-secondary pathways, options available to pay for college, and career opportunities in the Permian Basin and beyond. The emphasis will be on showing that post-secondary education options exist for every student, even if traditional college isn't their intended path.
"At MISD, our mission is that students will graduate college-, career-, or military-ready, and C3 will be an integral part in helping make that a reality," said MISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Howard. "Through our collaboration with Midland College on the C3 initiative, we are committed to providing students with the tools and opportunities they need to excel beyond high school and are grateful to our local philanthropic partners who have made this a possibility for our students."
Midland College and MISD plan to present an overview of the program at the regularly scheduled meeting of the MISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday, June 25.
The C3 program will utilize ACCESS, a cloud-based platform designed to empower MISD students through customized career exploration and connections to resources. Students will be exposed to over 460 regional careers and more than 11,000 West Texas career experts through ACCESS.
“By empowering students to make well-informed decisions towards navigating paths towards Midland College, higher education, or broader professional landscapes, we hope to address workforce shortages and educational attainment gaps present in the Permian Basin,” said Midland College President Dr. Damon Kennedy.
The initiative is funded by philanthropic partners including Abell-Hanger Foundation; Diamondback Energy; The Fasken Foundation; Henry Foundation; McGary Regan Foundation; Pevehouse Family Foundation; Scharbauer Foundation; and Warren Charitable Foundation.
For more information about C3, visit midland.edu/C3.
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