Guided Pathways
We're on a Journey to Transform
Guided Pathways schools are redesigning to make academic-to-career pathways clear for students. It can be challenging for a new student to translate their interests into a career and understand their academic pathway to success. So far, Clark has organized academic choices into six areas of study, created student-facing program maps for each of Clark’s 100+ degree and certificates.
Guided Pathways also examines the barriers to success that exist for our students. This college-wide effort seeks to locate and close equity gaps through research, quantitative and qualitative data, and pilot programs that test new policy and procedures for the college. Guided Pathways schools embrace a mindset shift from expecting students to be “college ready” to becoming a college that is “student ready.”
Download our 2022 Guided Pathways Vision Overview PDF to share.
Learn more about Clark College's Guided Pathway Work. Video created by the Clark College Foundation.
Washington State Community and Technical Colleges (WSCTC) is a leader in Guided Pathways reforms.
Our Guided Pathway Vision
Clark College, in partnership with AACC, CCRC, and the State's Guided Pathways effort has aligned our work and vision with a four pillar structure and the State's five guiding principles:
Clark College's Guided Pathways Leadership Team:
Jim Wilkins-Luton, Interim Vice President of Instruction
Dr. Michele Cruse, Vice President of Student Affairs
Vanessa C.K. Neal, Interim Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Sabra Sand, Vice President of Operations
Cristhian Canseco Juarez, Vice Chair Board of Trustees
Rhianna Johnson, Director of Guided Pathways and Partnerships
The SBCTC's five Guided Pathways principles:
Principle #1 - Changeable
Guided Pathways requires urgent, radical, equity-minded, transformational organizational change.
Principle #2 Responsive
Guided Pathways requires a culturally responsive commitment to racial and social equity by dismantling systemic policies and practices that perpetuate inequities.
Principle #3 Inclusive
The voices of students, faculty, staff and community members are essential to fully engage in adaptive problem focused inquiry processes leading to meaningful action and sustained systemic change.
Principle #4 Collaborative
Guided Pathways requires intentional collaborative learning through partnerships, professional and resource development.
Principle #5 Aligned
Guided Pathways requires a focus on learning and outcomes aligned with community values and industry needs.
The Accomplishments of the Clark College faculty and staff, so far (it's a journey)
2022-2023 Guided Pathways Highlights
Clark College has a robust and extensive Guided Pathways framework that will lead to improved student outcomes in the next several years, including the 2022-2024 state plan that was submitted to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in April 2022 and full alignment with the 2022-2024 college-wide Strategic Enrollment Management Plan. Focus areas include outreach, retention, completion and elimination of equity gaps through holistic student support services and processes and engaging, culturally inclusive classroom environments. These plans were developed through collaboration with multiple campus stakeholders and have been shared in targeted spaces for additional feedback and progress tracking.
Clark College has developed an inclusive budget project proposal process to allow staff and faculty to put forward innovative ideas related to student success measures. Additionally, long-term plans also include funding for communications and marketing to improve information dissemination and reporting about Guided Pathways activity to campus constituencies. Finally, Guided Pathways is providing budget support for Assessment and Institutional Research to ensure that the college develops plans and strategies based on effective quantitative and qualitative data tracking, compilation and analysis.
Download our 2022 Guided Pathways Year-End Outcomes presentation for more information.
Outcomes Alignment
High level Microsoft Power BI data dashboards established
Several department level data dashboards created
HEDS survey completed
Reengagement with EMSI data including plans for impact reports, employment outlook, alumni outcomes, and program gap demand analysis
Rapid Insight software purchased
Scheduling
Academic Advising Reports completed, vetted, and available for use (with ongoing fixes as needed)
OER group was established, including discussions around designating OER courses in the schedule
Improved process flow for course and program changes to ensure information is communicated amongst all departments
Intake
Nearly 2,000 students served at the One-Stop location
Video assets developed to highlight Areas of Study, healthcare programs, AoS Success Coaching program and student explainer videos including Running Start
Developed new Areas of Study webpage templates to provide better access to information about programs at Clark College, improved user experience, and connection to contact forms
Engaging Students in Support of Completion
Project completed to provide more accessibility and universal design in BIOL&100
Nearly 60 students recruited for STEM pathway camp
Project completed to identify skills and outcomes for a new Clean Energy and Advanced Manufacturing degree pathway
PPI coursework and/or outcomes have been embedded into nearly all degree programs will be addressed next year