Funded by College Futures Foundation, 23 new colleges will make up the second cohort for “Guided Pathways 2.0”

SACRAMENTO, CA—Today, the California Community Colleges, in partnership with the Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC), announced the launch of “Guided Pathways 2.0,” a project that aims to further accelerate implementation of the California Guided Pathways model and increase the number of students who earn a certificate or degree. Through philanthropic support from College Futures Foundation and other funders, Guided Pathways 2.0 will engage an additional 23 colleges to work with the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement (NCII) to design and implement structured pathways for all students.

A national, evidence-based student success practice, Guided Pathways provides California community colleges an equity-focused framework for an integrated, institution-wide approach to student success. Beginning Fall 2020 and lasting through Fall 2023, Guided Pathways 2.0 will support all 43 colleges from cohorts one and two as they implement the four pillars of Guided Pathways: clarify paths for students, help students choose and stay on a path, and ensure students are learning.

“The Guided Pathways model is the framework for implementing the Vision for Success, serving as an avenue for colleges to improve student success and a catalyst for institutional change,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley. “I am thrilled to welcome the second cohort of colleges into the next phase of this project and am excited to partner with the FoundationCCC and NCII in this work to support our colleges and students.”

For several years, California community colleges have committed to implementing Guided Pathways in order to create more structured educational experiences that support students from point of entry to attainment of high-quality postsecondary credentials and employment in a chosen field. The current project doubles down on the commitment to Guided Pathways and is designed to build on the foundation of the first demonstration project and share lessons, artifacts, and promising practices with colleges across the system. As a student-centered equity strategy, Guided Pathways aligns with the system’s Vision for Success to increase the number of students earning community college credentials and close equity gaps.

“Thanks to the generous initial support from the College Futures Foundation, the California Community Colleges are poised to accelerate their implementation of student-centered reforms through Guided Pathways,” said Sandra Fried, Vice President of the Success Center at the FoundationCCC. “The learnings from participating colleges will benefit the entire system and its 2.1 million students through our partnership with the Chancellor’s Office in this exciting venture.”

Participant colleges will receive guidance and support from NCII, the Chancellor’s Office, and the Success Center through webinars, institutes, collaborative learning sessions, and coaching.

To learn more about California Guided Pathways project, please visit: https://www.cccco.edu/College-Professionals/Guided-Pathways

#####

The Foundation for California Community Colleges is the official nonprofit foundation to the California Community Colleges Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office. The Foundation’s mission is to benefit, support, and enhance the missions of the California Community Colleges system, the largest higher education system in the nation. Incorporated in 1998, the Foundation works to benefit all California Community College students, colleges, college foundations, and the system as a whole by accelerating paths to economic and social mobility, strengthening communities, and reducing barriers to opportunities for all Californians. The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www.foundationccc.org.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges with 116 campuses serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; degree and certificate pathways; and basic skills education in English and math. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision for Success, a strategic plan designed to improve student success outcomes, increase transfer rates and eliminate achievement gaps. For more information, please visit the Facebook and Twitter.