Texas Christian University has joined the Tarrant To & Through Partnership, collaborating in a community-wide effort to ensure that more Tarrant County students have the training and skills they need to thrive in today’s workforce and to meet the area’s employment needs of the future.
“As a leader in the Tarrant County community and a Fort Worth resident, I care about our city’s future workforce and the crucial role postsecondary education plays,” Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said. “It’s imperative that we all come together to ensure the education and success of our future colleagues, entrepreneurs and leaders. I am proud that TCU will join Tarrant To & Through in this effort.”
According to Tarrant To & Through, known as T3, more than 65% of jobs in today’s economy require some type of postsecondary certification, while only about 39% of Tarrant County adults have obtained an associate degree or higher. T3 is focused on closing three key gaps identified as hindering students from being prepared for, enrolling in and finishing postsecondary education: the information gap, the guidance gap and the financial aid gap.
“T3’s goals match TCU’s goals to offer top-tier education that is, simultaneously, accessible education,” said Mike Scott, associate provost for enrollment management. “If there are Fort Worth students who want to be Horned Frogs but face obstacles, we want to find a way to make them lifelong, successful Horned Frogs. T3 aligns with that objective.”
In addition to being a partner university, TCU is able to go a step further with its College Advising Corps (CAC), a national program established a decade ago in the College of Education, that provides underserved, Fort Worth-area high schools with well-trained, dedicated advisers who aim to increase the number of low-income, first-generation and underrepresented students entering and completing higher education. Through its partnership with T3, TCU CAC has placed more than 30 additional near-peer advisers in select Fort Worth ISD high schools.
“We are honored to come alongside our fellow Tarrant County colleges and universities, as well as numerous corporate and community partners, in order to meet this need,” said Whitnee Boyd, coordinator of special projects in the Office of the Chancellor. “T3 has enormous purpose, and it’s one that TCU shares and is pleased to support.”
The sentiment is mutual.
“T3 believes that student success is our success. Together, we will help create more equitable pathways while supporting students as they enroll, persist and complete a postsecondary credential with confidence,” said Rachael Capua, director of College & Career Success for T3. “TCU is a pillar of our community and the partnership with T3 will play a critical role in providing educational opportunity for more students through scholarships and other supports such as bridge programming, persistence coaching and transfer student resources.”
The first academic year for students in all 21 Fort Worth ISD high schools began in fall 2020, and the first cohort of T3 Scholars will enter college in fall 2021.
“TCU has a focus on diversity and inclusion on our campus and we are known for an engaged student experience with significant student support. T3 allows us to expand these strengths to even more local and talented young people,” Boschini said.