Student Success

At Oakton College, we believe that our success is measured solely by the success of students like you.

That's why, on both a personal and institutional level, we're committed to offering you the support you need to achieve your goals and get real value from your time here.

That commitment is demonstrated through various programs and services designed to support student success. We are dedicated to improving student success through our strategic commitments identified in the College’s Strategic Plan, Vision 2030: Building Just and Thriving Communities, and our partnership with the Achieving the Dream (ATD) network, a national nonprofit organization designed to focus on the success of students engaged in higher education. With more than 220 participating colleges, ATD encourages colleges to improve student success and eliminate achievement gaps across different populations.

As a part of our priority toward achieving student success, Oakton has established a Student Success Team (SST), which is a college-wide committee designed to collaborate with the ATD network. Made up of people from across Oakton's vast and diverse faculty and staff, the SST focuses on bringing community stakeholders together to think courageously, break down silos and integrate student success initiatives into a clear agenda.

Most importantly, the SST is charged with collecting and analyzing data and evidence; formulating and recommending strategies and policy changes; and evaluating the effectiveness of those strategies. Through the work of the SST and Oakton’s commitment to programs and services that intentionally influence student success outcomes, the College seeks to transform itself and make clear its dedication to access, inclusion, equity and overall student success.

You can learn more about some of our initiatives and their outcomes in our Quality Initiative Report (PDF) (802 KB) completed for the Higher Learning Commission.

Stacey Vanada
"We help students meet educational goals and plan for the upcoming semester, long-term goals, and transferring. I hope students gain a sense of belonging and build confidence in exploring higher education and making decisions."

Stacey Vanada

Academic Advisor

Meet with an Advisor

A School Focused on Your Success

As a student at Oakton, you'll work with faculty and advisors who are personally invested in you achieving your goals. We try to keep our classes small, so you'll be able to build real connections with your instructors as they guide and teach you.

At our Career and Transfer Center, you can get key support to plan your studies and useful skills for your job hunt after you leave us. If you're aiming to transfer to another institution after completing your general education courses, our transfer specialists will help you find the proper courses, fill out your paperwork and make sure your hard-earned credits transfer. If you're here for a degree or certification, we can make sure you're taking the classes that will lead to graduation and, more importantly, give you the skills you need to find and build a career.

We understand, too, that achieving success is a long-term venture, and we offer day-to-day support to ensure you're able to stay on your educational path. For example, as an Oakton student, you'll have access to our Counseling and Wellness Center and to counselors on call who are ready to offer you any assistance you might need when you need it.