Feb. 6, 2023 3:15p
(WGTD)---Gateway’s new president has been on the job now for a little over a month.
Appearing with co-host Stephanie Sklba on WGTD’s Education Matters this past Saturday, Ritu Raju said there have been surprises during her short tenure here, but they’ve all been pleasant. “I think the key thing for me is to see the warmth and friendliness…everyone has been so welcoming and willing to help,” Raju said.
Raju, who succeeds the retired Bryan Albrecht, came to Gateway after serving in various roles at community colleges in Texas. While earning her masters and doctorate degrees, Raju did homework alongside her daughter as she moved through her high school and college years.
Raju spelled out her philosophy on higher education.
The once-upon-a-time model used to be that students would graduate from high school then either go to work or go to college, and then enter the workforce to stay. That’s not always the case these days. Raju used an analogy. “If you think of a highway or an expressway, it has multiple exits and multiple entry points. So there are on ramps and there are off ramps. Higher education in many ways for our students needs to have those on ramps and off ramps.”
Raju said one challenge is to make sure Gateway is a student-friendly place that uses whatever methods available to keep students engaged and on track.
Raju also emphasized the importance of accessibility, saying that community colleges excel in that area. “We know education has the power to change lives. The access piece really helps us to give that power to everybody,” she said.
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