Oakton partners with Lake Forest College for environmental studies pathway

Oakton Community College has partnered with Lake Forest College to create a pathway for environmental studies students to matriculate seamlessly between the two colleges. The Pathway Environmental Studies Scholars program is designed for students seeking to transfer to the Lake Forest Department of Environmental Studies.

“This is a great connection with this world-class institution,” says Oakton Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs/College Transitions Anne Brennan. “This agreement connects two great environmental studies programs. Not only will Oakton courses transfer to Lake Forest smoothly, students can actually begin enrolling at Lake Forest during the summers of their first two years at a reduced tuition.”

Provided that students meet the GPA and course requirements for admission to the Pathway Environmental Studies Scholars program, Lake Forest will guarantee admission to students from Oakton.

Lake Forest Director of Transfer Admission Melissa Naughton says, “Lake Forest College created the Pathway Environmental Studies Scholars program with Oakton, designed for students seeking to transfer to the Department of Environmental Studies, to attract and reward well-prepared students.”

Pathway Environmental Studies Scholars receive:

•        A guaranteed $20,000 scholarship (students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa receive a guaranteed $25,000 scholarship);

•        Pre-advising by Lake Forest College faculty on course selection while at Oakton;

•        Advising from Lake Forest College Career Center staff on internships and career opportunities;

•        Early registration for classes during the initial registration period at a reduced tuition; and

•        Students earning a 3.6 GPA or higher in the first semester will have the option of selecting a fifth course for free in the second semester.

“As co-coordinators of the Environmental Studies Concentration at Oakton, Marian Staats and I are really excited about developing this partnership with Lake Forest for our students interested in advancing their scholarship in environmental studies at a great four-year college in the Chicago area,” says Oakton Environmental Studies Concentration Co-Coordinator Paul Gulezian, associate professor. “As part of our work together, we’ve had collective discussions among faculty and administrators at both institutions, and it’s clear that everyone is interested in cultivating the next generation of leaders who will help us figure out how to live on this planet more sustainably and beautifully.”

Applications for scholarships will be available starting in spring 2019. For more information, including how to apply for a scholarship, email [email protected].