In their pivotal 2015 publication, Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success, researchers Thomas Bailey, Shanna Smith Jaggars, and Davis Jenkins from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) explored the reasons behind the stalled progress in student completion rates and persistent equity gaps within community colleges, despite over a decade of reform efforts. Their analysis revealed that the “cafeteria college” model, adopted to broaden access to higher education in the U.S., unintentionally created obstacles to student success. This model lacked clear pathways to student goals, offered limited career and college exploration support, struggled to move students beyond remedial prerequisites, lacked progress monitoring, and focused instructional innovation on individual courses rather than program-wide skill development.
Redesigning America’s Community Colleges advocated for a comprehensive restructuring of programs and student supports based on the guided pathways model. This model proposes systematic changes to policies, practices, and systems in four critical areas.
The guided pathways model fundamentally aims to clarify the educational journey for students, ensuring they have a clear understanding of the steps needed to achieve their academic and career aspirations. It also focuses on providing robust support systems to help students navigate these pathways successfully.
The four pillars of the guided pathways model are:
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Clarifying Paths to Student Education and Career Goals: This involves creating clear, structured academic maps that align with specific career outcomes or transfer pathways to four-year institutions. These maps outline required courses, recommended electives, and key milestones, providing students with a roadmap for their educational journey. This clarity helps students make informed decisions and stay focused on their goals.
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Helping Students Get on a Path: This element focuses on improving the onboarding process for new students. Effective onboarding includes comprehensive advising, career exploration resources, and assistance with choosing a program of study that aligns with their interests and goals. Early support and guidance are crucial for setting students on the right track from the beginning.
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Keeping Students on Path: This aspect emphasizes ongoing support and monitoring to ensure students stay on track towards their goals. This includes proactive advising, early alert systems to identify students who may be struggling, and targeted interventions to provide assistance when needed. Regular check-ins and personalized support help students overcome challenges and maintain momentum.
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Ensuring Students Are Learning Across Programs: This component focuses on aligning curriculum and instruction with the skills and knowledge needed for success in college, careers, and life. It involves integrating applied learning experiences, such as internships and projects, into academic programs. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills across all disciplines.
Since the initial publication of Redesigning, CCRC has continued to refine its understanding of guided pathways and has built evidence on effective implementation strategies, equity promotion, and impact measurement. Approximately 400 community colleges across 16 states are actively implementing guided pathways reforms through formal initiatives, with many others adopting the model independently.
In conclusion, the guided pathways model represents a significant shift in how community colleges approach student success. By providing clear paths, comprehensive support, and a focus on learning outcomes, guided pathways aim to increase completion rates, close equity gaps, and prepare students for successful futures. This model offers a promising framework for transforming community colleges into more effective and equitable institutions.
