• Classes
  • College Catalog
  • Advising
  • Apply
  • Transcripts
  • Library
Menu
  • Classes
  • College Catalog
  • Advising
  • Apply
  • Transcripts
  • Library
Events
MyWay
Moodle
Email
Portal

News

News OCCC ahead of the curve as President Obama calls for free tuition

Filter by Subject

  • Academics
  • Arts & Humanities
  • Arts Festival
  • Business and Information Technology
  • Community
  • Community & Alumni
  • Community Outreach
  • Culture & Arts Series
  • Current Students
  • Enrollment
  • Faculty and Staff
  • General
  • Health Professions
  • Information
  • International Students
  • President
  • Prospective Students
  • Recreation & Fitness
  • Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
  • Social Sciences
Menu
  • Academics
  • Arts & Humanities
  • Arts Festival
  • Business and Information Technology
  • Community
  • Community & Alumni
  • Community Outreach
  • Culture & Arts Series
  • Current Students
  • Enrollment
  • Faculty and Staff
  • General
  • Health Professions
  • Information
  • International Students
  • President
  • Prospective Students
  • Recreation & Fitness
  • Science, Engineering, and Mathematics
  • Social Sciences

OCCC ahead of the curve as President Obama calls for free tuition

  • Published January 21, 2015

The OCCC marquee welcomes students to campus.

Currently many Americans face barriers when it comes to access to education they need for a successful future. During his State of the Union Address Tuesday, Jan. 20, President Barack Obama addressed this issue and encouraged Congress to reward those willing to work for it with a zero-tuition plan. Access to affordable education has long been the mission of Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), and for many OCCC students, free community college tuition has long been a reality.

Since 1999, OCCC has been ahead of the curve, encouraging students to take hold of their educational goals with OKC-GO. OKC-GO is OCCC’s successful tuition waiver program that offers all graduates of Oklahoma City and Western Heights public schools a free education. Last year, the program was expanded to include all tuition and fees paid with no set time limit on completing a degree.

“It’s as close to a guaranteed degree as you can get,” said Jon Horinek, OCCC director of Recruitment and Admissions. “The OKC-GO program is trying to eliminate some of the biggest barriers to completing a degree: cost and time.”

Now known as OKC-GO 2.0, between 300 and 400 students take advantage of the program each semester.

“By the end of this decade, two in three job openings will require some higher education,” President Obama said. “That’s why I am sending this Congress a bold new plan to lower the cost of community college — to zero.”

Under President Obama’s proposed plan, students who maintain a 2.5 GPA would get two years of free tuition paid for by both federal and state money. According to the President, an individual with an associate degree earns 25 percent more than someone who never attends college.

That rationale is why OCCC started its tuition waiver program. According to OCCC officials, it not only allows a graduate to earn more, it also makes them a better student, giving the opportunity to achieve advanced degrees.

“Students who graduate with an associate degree at OCCC have no trouble transferring to a four year institution in-state or out of state. In fact our graduates have higher GPA’s and are more likely to graduate on time than students who started at a 4-year college,” Horinek said.

After witnessing the devastation following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, Gabby Velasquez was determined to help people in need by pursuing a career path as a nurse, but didn’t think college was a possibility because of financial strain. However, with the help of OKC-GO, Velasquez successfully attended and graduated from OCCC. She is currently completing her nursing accreditation. Velasquez said attending OCCC was an inspiring experience that gave her direction and encouraged her to participate in a nursing externship at Mercy Hospital.

“I love the nursing program here. I was telling my mom if I had any other choice to go anywhere else I probably wouldn’t because this place has been awesome! I’m almost a nurse, and I’ve heard about the debt some people have amassed at other colleges, and I think ‘whoa,'” Velasquez said.

“Higher education is about so much more than achieving a career endpoint. The opportunity to attend a community college or university is invaluable as the experience between the walls of higher learning fosters confidence, critical thinking, curiosity, acceptance of diverse backgrounds and culture and is overall transformational,” Horinek said. “Higher education should be available to any student that has the desire and determination to take advantage of this learning environment for the good of the individual and our community.”

OCCC officials are excited about the President’s proposed plan, with the hope that it may allow the expansion of the OKC-GO program to additional school districts. This year, OCCC also plans to extend the program for adults who have graduated from Oklahoma City and Western Heights Public Schools and have been two years removed from college to receive a tuition waiver to come back and finish their degree.

To be part of OKC-GO 2.0, students are required to complete the Federal Student Aid application (FAFSA), although OKC-GO 2.0 has no income limitations, once in the program, students must complete a FAFSA each year and maintain satisfactory academic progress, while taking at least 6 hours each fall and spring semester until graduation.

For more information, call 405.682.7580, check out /OKC-GO or visit the OCCC Office of Recruitment and Admissions, 7777 South May Avenue.

Latest News

Loading...

OCCC Hosting Free Workshop for Potential Business Owners

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Aug. 8, 2022) — Oklahoma City Community College is partnering with SCORE Oklahoma...
Read More

OCCC Awarded $1.8 Million to Help First-Generation College Students

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Aug. 5, 2022) — Oklahoma City Community College has been awarded a...
Read More

OCCC Awarded $35,000 Grant to Build Study Abroad Capacity

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Aug. 1, 2022) — Oklahoma City Community College and McMurry University in Abilene,...
Read More

Get Involved

Upcoming Events

View Event Calendar

09/3/22

Labor Day Weekend - College Closed

All Day

09/22/22

An Evening with Jose Feliciano

7:30 pm

10/9/22

Kyiv City Ballet

3:00 pm

Find Your Compass IconWay Around.

Find everything on campus and more with MyWay.

MyWay
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)nl Dutchen Englishtl Filipinofr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiid Indonesianit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
  • Accessibility
  • Annual Security Report
  • COVID-19
  • TITLE IX
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin Snapchat-ghost Youtube Tiktok

405.682.1611

Map Icon

7777 S. May Ave.

OKC, OK

73159-4444

  • Bursar
  • CAREERS
  • FOUNDATION
  • POLICE
  • Pioneer
  • VPAC
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination
  • Building Hours
  • Bookstore
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Labs
  • Media/Marketing
  • PURCHASING
Top

Apply Now

  • Privacy Statement

  • Privacy Policy
Follow Us
Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Linkedin Snapchat-ghost Youtube Tiktok

405-682-1611

Map Icon
Location

7777 South May Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
73159-4444

  • Bursar
  • CAREERS
  • FOUNDATION
  • POLICE
  • Pioneer
  • VPAC
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination
  • Building Hours
  • Bookstore
  • Directory
  • Library
  • Labs
  • Media/Marketing
  • PURCHASING
en English
ar Arabiczh-CN Chinese (Simplified)zh-TW Chinese (Traditional)nl Dutchen Englishtl Filipinofr Frenchde Germanhi Hindiid Indonesianit Italianja Japaneseko Koreanpt Portugueseru Russianes Spanishvi Vietnamese
  • Accessibility
  • Annual Security Report
  • COVID-19
  • TITLE IX

Apply Now

  • Privacy Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright © OCCC
  • Student Webmail Login
  • Employee Webmail Login
MyWay
Portal
Moodle
Email
Oklahoma City Community College Est 1972
Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Snapchat-ghost Tiktok

405-682-1611

Location

7777 South May Avenue

Oklahoma City, OK

73159-4444

About OCCC
  • Accreditation
  • Board of Regents
  • BOR Agendas
  • Building Hours
  • Campus Police
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Cooperative Education
  • Departments
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosure of Information
  • Employee Directory
  • Facilities Management
  • Food Services
  • Free Speech Compliance Report
  • Human Resources
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Library
  • Location & Facilities
  • Mission/Vision
  • MyWay
  • News
  • Notification of Nondiscrimination
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Purchasing
  • Records Request Form
Menu
  • Accreditation
  • Board of Regents
  • BOR Agendas
  • Building Hours
  • Campus Police
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Cooperative Education
  • Departments
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosure of Information
  • Employee Directory
  • Facilities Management
  • Food Services
  • Free Speech Compliance Report
  • Human Resources
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Library
  • Location & Facilities
  • Mission/Vision
  • MyWay
  • News
  • Notification of Nondiscrimination
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Purchasing
  • Records Request Form
  • About Us
  • Accreditation
  • Board of Regents
  • BOR Agendas
  • Building Hours
  • Campus Police
  • Contact Us
  • Departments
  • Digital Cinema Production
  • Driving Directions
  • Employment at OCCC
  • Food Service
  • Free Speech Compliance Report
  • Human Resources
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Library
  • Maps, Rooms & Professor Search
  • Mission & Values
  • News & Announcements
  • OCCC Foundation
Academics
  • Academics
  • Academic Calendar (pdf)
  • Academic Affairs
  • Academic Divisions
    • Arts, English & Humanities
    • Business & Information Technology
    • Health Professions
    • Science, Engineering & Mathematics
    • Social Sciences
    • All Divisions
  • Absolute Literary Journal
  • Assessment
  • Building Hours
  • Center for Learning & Teaching
  • Class FAQs
  • College Catalog
  • Courses and Course Sections
  • Curriculum and Assessment
  • Degrees & Programs
  • Employee Directory
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Faculty Association
  • Faculty Profiles
  • Federal Disclosures
  • Honors Program
  • Institutional Committees
  • Online College
  • Online Student Information
  • Registration
  • OCCC Certificate Programs and Gainful Employment Disclosures
  • Pioneer, Student Newspaper
  • Student Success Advising
  • Transfer Agreements by Institution
Menu
  • Academics
  • Academic Calendar (pdf)
  • Academic Affairs
  • Academic Divisions
    • Arts, English & Humanities
    • Business & Information Technology
    • Health Professions
    • Science, Engineering & Mathematics
    • Social Sciences
    • All Divisions
  • Absolute Literary Journal
  • Assessment
  • Building Hours
  • Center for Learning & Teaching
  • Class FAQs
  • College Catalog
  • Courses and Course Sections
  • Curriculum and Assessment
  • Degrees & Programs
  • Employee Directory
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Faculty Association
  • Faculty Profiles
  • Federal Disclosures
  • Honors Program
  • Institutional Committees
  • Online College
  • Online Student Information
  • Registration
  • OCCC Certificate Programs and Gainful Employment Disclosures
  • Pioneer, Student Newspaper
  • Student Success Advising
  • Transfer Agreements by Institution
Admissions
  • Why Choose OCCC?
  • Campus Tours
  • Get Started
  • Apply Now
  • Concurrent Student: Get Started
  • International Student Services
  • Admitted, What’s Next?
  • Submitting Transcripts
  • Requesting Transcripts
  • Tuition & Fees
  • Scholarships
  • Financial Aid
  • Campus Life
  • Request Information
  • Meet the Staff
  • Health Applications
Menu
  • Why Choose OCCC?
  • Campus Tours
  • Get Started
  • Apply Now
  • Concurrent Student: Get Started
  • International Student Services
  • Admitted, What’s Next?
  • Submitting Transcripts
  • Requesting Transcripts
  • Tuition & Fees
  • Scholarships
  • Financial Aid
  • Campus Life
  • Request Information
  • Meet the Staff
  • Health Applications
Student Services
  • Bookstore
  • Bursar
  • Career Transitions Program
  • Clothes Closet
  • Graduation Services
  • 2022 Spring Honor Rolls
  • International Student Services
  • Library
  • New Student Orientation
  • OCCC Pantry
  • Online Student Information
  • Records Services
  • Recreation and Fitness
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Student Conduct
  • Students Connecting with Mentors for Success (SCMS)
  • Student Handbook
  • Student Life
  • Student Accessibility & Support
  • The Pioneer
  • TRIO Programs
  • Username and Password Information
  • Veterans Office
  • Writing Center
Menu
  • Bookstore
  • Bursar
  • Career Transitions Program
  • Clothes Closet
  • Graduation Services
  • 2022 Spring Honor Rolls
  • International Student Services
  • Library
  • New Student Orientation
  • OCCC Pantry
  • Online Student Information
  • Records Services
  • Recreation and Fitness
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Student Conduct
  • Students Connecting with Mentors for Success (SCMS)
  • Student Handbook
  • Student Life
  • Student Accessibility & Support
  • The Pioneer
  • TRIO Programs
  • Username and Password Information
  • Veterans Office
  • Writing Center
Labs & Centers
  • Labs & Centers
  • Accounting Lab
  • Art Labs
  • Biological Sciences Center
  • Business Lab
  • Ceramics/Mosaics Lab
  • Child Development Workroom
  • Digital Media Lab
  • Editing Lab
  • Engineering Lab
  • Math Lab
  • Music Lab
  • Newswriting Lab (Pioneer)
  • Nursing Campus Clinical Laboratory
  • Photography Lab
  • Physical Science Center
  • Soundstage & Equipment Room
  • Speech Lab
  • Student Computer Center
  • Testing Center
  • Virtual Learning Center
  • World Languages & Cultures Center
  • Writing Center
International
  • Prospective Students
    • Welcome
    • Student Testimonials
    • Get to Know OKC
    • OCCC Advantage
    • Application Requirements
    • Cost
    • Programs
    • Travel
    • Visa Facts
    • FAQs
    • Apply Now
  • Current Students
    • Maintaining Visa Status
    • International Forms
    • Travel Guidelines
    • Student Employment
    • Housing & Transportation
    • Insurance
    • FAQs
    • Contact a DSO
  • Student Information
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Support Services
    • Academic Services
    • Transcript Request
    • School Policies
    • Student Account
    • Pay Tuition
  • Alumni
    • Employment
    • Returning to OCCC
    • Transcript Request
    • Alumni Connection
  • International Guidebook
    • PDF
    • Online Book
  • Photo Gallery
  • International Student Tuition Waiver
  • Meet the Staff
Menu
  • Prospective Students
    • Welcome
    • Student Testimonials
    • Get to Know OKC
    • OCCC Advantage
    • Application Requirements
    • Cost
    • Programs
    • Travel
    • Visa Facts
    • FAQs
    • Apply Now
  • Current Students
    • Maintaining Visa Status
    • International Forms
    • Travel Guidelines
    • Student Employment
    • Housing & Transportation
    • Insurance
    • FAQs
    • Contact a DSO
  • Student Information
    • Clubs & Organizations
    • Support Services
    • Academic Services
    • Transcript Request
    • School Policies
    • Student Account
    • Pay Tuition
  • Alumni
    • Employment
    • Returning to OCCC
    • Transcript Request
    • Alumni Connection
  • International Guidebook
    • PDF
    • Online Book
  • Photo Gallery
  • International Student Tuition Waiver
  • Meet the Staff
Community
  • Alumni
  • Capitol Hill Center
  • Career Transitions
  • Central Oklahoma Manufacturers Alliance
  • Community Outreach & Education
  • Cultural Programs
  • Library
  • OCCC Foundation
  • Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence
  • Coronavirus
Menu
  • Alumni
  • Capitol Hill Center
  • Career Transitions
  • Central Oklahoma Manufacturers Alliance
  • Community Outreach & Education
  • Cultural Programs
  • Library
  • OCCC Foundation
  • Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing Excellence
  • Coronavirus
Events
Contact
  • Contact Us
  • News & Announcements
  • Leadership
  • Accreditation
  • Association of Alumni & Friends
  • COVID Response

Apply Now