San Joaquin Delta College is among 20 community colleges selected to participate in the California Guided Pathways Project, a venture designed to substantially increase the number of students who earn a certificate or degree at California Community Colleges. The colleges, selected through a competitive application process, will design and implement structured academic and career pathways for all incoming students by 2019.
“I am confident that this project and the twenty participating colleges can positively impact the future of California,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, who serves on the project’s advisory committee. “I look forward to leading a series of systemwide efforts to implement the Guided Pathway model throughout the California Community Colleges.”
The Guided Pathways model includes specific course sequences, progress milestones, and defined learning outcomes. Delta College Superintendent/President Dr. Kathy Hart said she is looking forward to the college’s participation.
“Guided Pathways helps clarify a framework for colleges to help students who face barriers to completing a college education. We want students to select a program and stay on the path,” said Hart. “The Guided Pathways model will support each student from the point of entry to the attainment of high-quality postsecondary credentials and employment.”
The California Guided Pathways Project was launched in December of 2016, and is funded by College Futures Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, the Teagle Foundation, and participating colleges. The project was inspired by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Pathways Project to support increased certificate and degree completion within the California Community Colleges.
The colleges selected to participate in the project are: American River College, Butte College, Cabrillo College, College of the Canyons, Cosumnes River College, Chaffey College, Cuyamaca College, Los Angeles Trade Tech College, Long Beach City College, MiraCosta College, Modesto Junior College, Norco College, Reedley College, Rio Hondo College, Riverside City College, San Joaquin Delta College, Santa Ana College, Santa Barbara City College, Southwestern College and Yuba College.
Over the next three years, colleges will send teams to institutes where they will receive guidance to create clear pathways to high-quality credentials and develop the management strategies needed to accomplish this goal. College teams will be composed of five people, including the president and a faculty leader. Each college will receive support from a team of Guided Pathways coaches, including information on reform efforts in California that will support specific facets of their work.
“We look forward to supporting the colleges participating in the project,” said Dr. Rob Johnstone, project director. “We hope that by developing an expanded network of practitioners developing Guided Pathways, we can support other colleges and partners interested in adopting the student-centered approach to education planning.”
For more information on the California Guided Pathways Project, visit: www.CAGuidedPathways.org.
