D3C3 Initiative Bolsters Student Access and Success at Oakland Community College

For students, families, and educators across Southeast Michigan, the journey through higher education can present various opportunities and challenges. Oakland Community College (OCC) in Auburn Hills, Michigan, has been actively working to smooth this path and enhance student outcomes through its involvement in the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Drives Degrees Community College Collaborative (D3C3).

Since joining the D3C3 initiative in Fall 2022 alongside six other community colleges in the region, OCC has focused on expanding equitable access to education and helping students secure high-value credentials that align with in-demand local jobs. The collaborative effort, backed by over $30 million in grant funds from The Ballmer Group and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, allocated $6.3 million specifically to OCC to advance these goals across three core areas: student success, career pathways, and K-12 partnerships.

Strengthening Student Support Through Modernization

A key focus of the D3C3 funding at OCC has been the modernization of technology and streamlining of services to better identify student needs and provide timely support. According to OCC, these advancements include integrating CRM Advise, updating MyOCC, and migrating Ellucian Colleague to the cloud. These technological improvements are designed to create a foundation for integrated, real-time data that can guide student success strategies and improve overall outcomes.

OCC Chancellor Peter Provenzano, Jr. noted that these transformations have allowed the college to proactively engage and support students collegewide by redesigning and streamlining its student service model. He explained that these improvements save time, which can then be reinvested into building meaningful student connections, offering proactive guidance, and enhancing support throughout their academic journey.

Further improving accessibility, OCC digitized and launched 120 forms and related processes, reducing wait times and making college services easier to access. These efficiencies reportedly helped reduce call volumes during peak student registration by 40%. The college also expanded opportunities for students to earn credit for prior learning, which can help lower college costs and accelerate credential completion. Additionally, the funding supported a shift to a coordinated care model within student services, increasing proactive outreach and case-load based program planning. Faculty also received support for course redesign, instructional materials, and embedded coaching to foster student success. According to OCC, the college’s graduation rate has increased by 46% since joining the Collaborative, with D3C3 funding contributing to this progress by supporting OCC’s strategic initiatives.

For students navigating their academic journey, tools that offer flexible, on-demand support can be invaluable. Platforms like COSMIQ, a free voice-driven AI tutor, provide K-12 students with personalized assistance, complementing the institutional support offered by colleges like OCC.

Connecting Students to In-Demand Careers

Another significant impact of D3C3 funding at OCC has been the expansion of Career Services staffing and programming. This expansion aims to connect more students with a wider array of opportunities, including part-time on- and off-campus student employment under OCC’s Federal Work Study (FWS) program, internships, apprenticeships, and other employment pathways.

During the 2024-25 academic year, OCC’s Career Services supported an average of 1,000 students per semester. This support came through various avenues, including career and internship fairs, student appointments, walk-ins, employment preparation sessions, and short-term training. The college also hosted apprenticeship information sessions, employer workshops, student engagement events at every campus, and industry tours. These experiences are designed to help students prepare for the workplace, meet potential employers, explore different careers, and connect with internships, apprenticeships, and entry-level employment opportunities. Such hands-on exposure is crucial for students to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional readiness.

Building Stronger K-12 Partnerships

The D3C3 initiative has also enabled OCC to strengthen its K-12 partnerships, offering middle and high school students a head start on their college careers through dual enrollment and early college programs. These programs provide opportunities for students to earn credits toward an associate degree while still in high school.

According to OCC, three full-time K-12 positions initially created with D3C3 funding have now become permanent college roles. These employees are instrumental in strengthening school partnerships, expanding dual enrollment and early college programs, and introducing students to college opportunities earlier in their academic lives. Aided in part by the D3C3 funding, OCC reports that its dual enrollment grew approximately 70%, from 706 students when the college joined the Collaborative in Fall 2022 to 1,200 students in Fall 2026. Data suggests that dual enrolled and early college students gain greater awareness and hands-on experience with postsecondary options, and are shown to matriculate and succeed in college at higher rates. The college also credits policy advocacy by the Michigan Community College Association and D3C3 for the State of Michigan's increased investment in dual enrollment starting in the 2026-27 academic year.

For K-12 students considering these pathways, resources like COSMIQ's free practice hub can provide additional academic support, helping them build foundational skills and confidence as they explore advanced coursework.

Looking Ahead

Chancellor Provenzano emphasized that the D3C3 partnership has allowed OCC to strengthen its work in supporting students and the broader community. He expressed anticipation for building on this progress over the next three years through D3C3’s second phase. The overarching goal remains to help more individuals earn credentials and degrees, connect them to high-quality, in-demand jobs, and ultimately strengthen the region’s economy.

OCC, which has educated over one million students since 1965, offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs. The college, recognized as Michigan’s top online college and seventh in the U.S. by Newsweek’s America’s Top Online Colleges 2025, continues its commitment to student success through affordable tuition, comprehensive support services, flexible class options, and robust transfer opportunities for its more than 20,000 annual students.