Tulane University welcomes College Track to downtown campus

Tulane University is expanding its long-standing collaboration with College Track by welcoming the nationally recognized college success organization to a newly renovated 10,000-square-foot facility on its downtown New Orleans campus. The move reinforces the commitment of both organizations to helping students prepare for college, earn degrees and build successful careers while strengthening Louisiana's future workforce.

Beginning Sept. 8, College Track will serve students at 275 LaSalle St. in the heart of Tulane's downtown campus. The new location will deepen students' access to Tulane's growing downtown district - including its educational, research and innovation resources - while strengthening the career preparation at the heart of College Track's model.

For nearly 30 years, College Track's 10-year program has equipped students with the academic support, mentoring and guidance they need - from ninth grade through college graduation and into their careers - to achieve their educational goals and pursue meaningful careers. For many years, Tulane and College Track have worked together to help students prepare for college, succeed in higher education and graduate ready to contribute to their communities and professions.

By locating College Track on Tulane's downtown campus, this endeavor creates new opportunities for collaboration while introducing students to an environment where education, research, healthcare and innovation come together to shape Louisiana's future.

"College Track has an outstanding record of helping students prepare for college, succeed through graduation and pursue meaningful careers," said Patrick Norton, senior vice president, chief operating officer and treasurer at Tulane. "Welcoming College Track to our downtown campus strengthens a bond that connects students with new educational experiences while reinforcing Tulane's commitment to developing talent, advancing innovation and helping build Louisiana's future workforce. Whether these students attend Tulane or another university, we want them to realize their full potential and contribute to the future of our state."

"Tulane University has long been a valued partner to College Track and the alma mater of many of our scholars through the years. Locating our New Orleans center on Tulane's downtown campus will not only further strengthen our existing relationship, it will provide our high school scholars with the opportunity to be part of a lively and engaging higher education environment well before they graduate," said Shirley M. Collado, PhD, College Track president and CEO. "In this way, we are continuing our work to demystify the college completion experience for New Orleans youth, many of whom will be the first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree."

Earlier this summer, Tulane announced a major milestone in its plan to transform more than 650,000 square feet of the former Charity Hospital building into a new home for the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and the Tulane University Innovation Institute. The redevelopment will create a hub for education, research, entrepreneurship and innovation while also housing portions of the Tulane School of Medicine. The project will include state-of-the-art classrooms, interdisciplinary laboratories, community spaces and facilities for approximately 700 researchers, alongside residential, retail and community gathering spaces.

College Track's arrival represents another important step in Tulane's vision of creating a vibrant downtown education, research and innovation district where collaborations expand opportunity, strengthen communities and help prepare the next generation of leaders, professionals and innovators.