Looking to improve success rates for local students, the City of Philadelphia has partnered with the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) to establish the Octavius Catto Scholarship, which was named in honor of the civil rights activist and educator.
For up to three years, the scholarship will provide students with last-dollar funding to cover the cost of tuition as well as offer financial support for other costs such as food, transportation and textbooks.
“The namesake is key,” said Dr. Donald Guy Generals, president of CCP. “Octavius Catto gave his life for these type of social justice initiatives, particularly education. I think as a symbol of what education can do and what it should do for our society, his name and his legacy is as much a part of this as anything else.”
In addition to addressing financial barriers, the scholarship also offers social supports including career counseling, advising, tutoring and childcare resources and affordable housing.
According to the 2019 #RealCollege Survey, 70% of community college student respondents experienced food insecurity, housing insecurity or homelessness during the previous year.
“It is not just about getting them into the door, but it is about helping them be successful,” said Generals. “That is the key. We are placing a stake in the ground that this will be a successful program, that we will retain students as a result of that and there will be graduates who go into the workforce and will be able to find jobs beyond family sustainable wages and have prosperous careers.”
By 2030, 60% or more of all new jobs will require some level of college education, he said.
