Jennifer Champion, health promotion coordinator at the Wellness Services office, holds trivia entries during Campus Connect. Door prizes included a drawing for a free T-shirt. (Photo by MJ Nyamdavaa)
Tulsa Community College hosted its fall Campus Connect event at the Northeast Campus on Aug. 26. The program brought students face-to-face with departments and community partners offering resources to help them succeed.
The annual event, organized by Student Life and Wellness Services, featured tables with information about tutoring, career development, financial aid, as well as health and wellness, and more. Staff and community members said the goal was to ensure students know they do not have to navigate college alone.
“We just want students to know that there are resources on campus to help them be successful,” said Jennifer Champion, health promotion coordinator at the Wellness Services office. “The biggest thing is just to ask for help if you’re struggling. Somebody on campus will be able to direct you.”
Previously held both in the summer and fall, Campus Connect is now an annual fall event. This year’s event offered a chance for new students to connect early in the semester, while returning students could discover additional opportunities.
Beyond on-campus departments, organizations like the YMCA partnered with TCC to give students broader access to activities outside the classroom.
“Every student who is currently taking classes has free access to all four of our YMCA locations [on each TCC campus],” said Cobey Brown, membership coordinator of the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. “It’s important, especially when you’re bogged down studying, to get active.”
Brown shared that the YMCA hosts intramural sports, including basketball, volleyball, and pickleball. He encouraged students not only to use official resources but also to rely on each other.
“If you take the time and look left and right at your fellow students, you can learn a lot from them as well,” Brown said.
Career Development Specialist Chelsey Sykes reminded students that career preparation should begin long before graduation.
“Your career starts now,” Sykes said. “Building your network with faculty, getting ready for internships, and developing professionalism skills from the beginning is so important.”
Sykes shared that TCC partners with Parker Dewey, an organization that connects students with employers. Parker Dewey provides paid micro-internships, usually five to 40 hours long, giving students project-based experience.
Tutoring services were another focus. Academic lab coordinators at the Northeast Campus, Kelly Cory and Carl Pomeroy, said many students wait too long before seeking help.
“We take many kinds of students and many subjects,” Cory said. “We even help with history papers, writing assignments, and reading analysis.”
Pomeroy added that the tutoring services cover all levels of math and science in-person and online.
“We’re not here to do the work,” Pomeroy said. “We’re here to help them do the work. The only bad question is the one you don’t ask.”
Along with the campus organization representatives, students working at the event shared their own perspectives.
“I wish I knew how extensive and helpful all the services are, like tutoring or the writing center,” said psychology major Niazha McCullough, who also works as an office support clerk in Student Life on the West Campus. Computer information systems major Ericka Williams said she only learned about financial aid programs like Tulsa Achieves after starting classes.
“It’s basically a backup for your FAFSA,” Williams said. “Tulsa Achieves works as long as you stay in good standing and complete your service hours.”
From tutoring labs to gym memberships, staff said one consistent message for students: connect early and don’t be afraid to ask for guidance.
“Even if you don’t know where to go, just ask,” Champion said. “Someone on campus will point you in the right direction.”
For more information or a list of upcoming events, visit https://www.tulsacc.edu/support/wellness-services/connect-campaign.
