Tulsa Community College (TCC) announced today that it has received a $250,000 grant from the Teagle Foundation, the largest humanities‑directed grant in the college’s history. The funding will expand the Cornerstone: Learning for Living initiative, a program designed to deepen the role of the humanities in general education and expose more students to transformative works of literature, philosophy and other disciplines.
Why the Grant Matters
“The Cornerstone grant allows TCC to strengthen the role of humanities education and extend its reach to more students across the College,” said TCC President and CEO Leigh Goodson. “The humanities help students think critically and communicate complex ideas clearly, abilities that remain valuable wherever a student’s academic or professional path leads.”
Humanities courses are intended to develop critical thinking, clear communication and problem‑solving abilities—skills that align with the values of strong families and faith‑based communities. By integrating classic texts such as Plato’s *Apology* and Martin Luther King Jr.’s *Letter from Birmingham Jail* into Composition I classes, the program reinforces moral reasoning and civic responsibility.
Program Expansion and Faculty Involvement
The new grant will fund curriculum revisions, faculty professional development, stipends for course redesign, guest lecturers, student programming and year‑end symposiums. Thirty‑one faculty members across the college will participate, building on a pilot program launched after a 2025 Teagle planning grant supported curriculum development and a student symposium.
“Engaging with transformative texts can challenge students to think more deeply and see connections beyond a single subject,” said Joseph Boyne, TCC associate professor of English and George Kaiser Family Foundation Endowed Faculty Chair for Dual Credit. “This grant will help make those experiences a more intentional part of a TCC education.” Boyne co‑authored the grant application with Heather Wilburn, associate professor of humanities.
Student Voices
Student Kodi Myers, who participated in the Cornerstone pilot, praised the program’s impact: “Cornerstone empowers students to think deeply and reflect on so many crucial aspects of not only their humanity, but living as a whole. These reflections can provide further insight and change the way students think and interact with others, leaving positive and lasting impacts on communities.”
Community Engagement
The grant also supports a public panel discussion on King’s *Letter from Birmingham Jail*, featuring faith leaders who will explore its continued relevance. The event is scheduled for Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. in the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education and is free and open to the public.
Additional funding for Cornerstone comes from the Tulsa Community College Foundation, underscoring local philanthropic support for higher‑education enrichment.
Broader Context
Other institutions that have benefited from Cornerstone funding include Austin Community College, Purdue University and Vanderbilt University, illustrating a growing national emphasis on humanities education as a cornerstone of well‑rounded learning.
With the new grant, TCC aims to create a common educational experience across classrooms, ensuring that every student—regardless of major—has the opportunity to engage with works that shape moral character, civic understanding and lifelong learning.
Original reporting: KTUL 8 (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.
