Odessa College has announced it has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Star Award. This marks Odessa College’s third Star Award in school history and solidifies its position as the only institution in the region to receive this honor.
The Star Award celebrates outstanding institutional contributions to a talent-strong Texas, and highlights institutions that demonstrate exemplary support for students pursuing postsecondary pathways.
This year Odessa College receives this recognition for its transformative and comprehensive approach to supporting students both financially and academically.
This comprehensive approach, collectively called “Odessa College Cares” is designed to remove barriers to education, and includes initiatives like the “First Class Free” program, providing students with a no-cost entry point to higher education, saving students $1.5 million in tuition costs in the 2023-2024 academic year; Open Educational Resources (OER), which eliminated $4.3 million in textbook costs in the 2023-2024 academic year; Financial Aid for Swift Transfer (FAST) funding for dual credit students totaling $1.8 million in savings for students; and the Wrangler Food Pantry, which has helped nearly 2,000 individuals this past year alone.
Additionally, the college’s commitment to affordable education is further reflected through the new Wrangler Promise, which provides eligible students from the graduating class of 2024 onward with last-dollar scholarships covering tuition and fees. Collectively, these programs saved Odessa College students over $8 million in the 2023-2024 academic year.
“This award is a reflection of Odessa College’s commitment to removing barriers and ensuring our students succeed,” Odessa College President Gregory D. Williams said in a news release. “We are proud to be recognized for these efforts and will continue to innovate and expand our support services to build a talent-strong Texas.”
Odessa College’s achievements include a 61% increase in student enrollment over the past decade and a remarkable 128% increase in degrees and certificates awarded since 2014. The OC Cares initiative has played a pivotal role in these accomplishments by addressing students’ needs beyond the classroom through resources like the Atmos Energy Pantry Gardens, the Koonce Restart Scholarship, and newly introduced Wrangler Bucks, which provide students with dining credits to ensure access to nutritious meals on campus.
For more information on Odessa College and its award-winning initiatives, please visit Odessa College’s website at www.odessa.edu.
