Conduct a data-intensive Pathways Analysis during the planning year to locate loss and momentum points¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The guide recommends that each cadre conduct a data-intensive Pathways Analysis early in the planning year, in partnership with the Community College Research Center, JBL Associates, and the RP Group. "The analysis looks at each stage of students' progression — from first contact to completion of a certificate or degree — to understand where there is lack of system coherence, inadequate student support, or any other impediment to student success." The inquiry-based process is intended to raise and address key questions about loss and momentum and to serve as a mechanism for continuous organizational improvement, while assisting colleges in tracking progress on the initiative's three intermediate objectives.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Partnership with technical assistance providers and a student data system spanning day one to completion

Constraints¶

• The guide notes scaling reforms has been a persistent challenge, citing funding formulas, institutional barriers, grant timelines, and the absence of long-term evaluations

Target Learners¶

• community college students across all progression stages

Target Learning Goals¶

• identifying and removing impediments to credential completion

Related Strategies¶

• Colleges can adopt evidence-based support practices—wrap-around advising, proactive advising, non-tuition financial support, co-requisite courses, early alert systems, and disaggregated data—to improve completion

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Nodine, T., Venezia, A., and Bracco, K. (2011). Changing Course: A Guide to Increasing Student Completion in Community Colleges. San Francisco, CA: WestEd. http://knowledgecenter.completionbydesign.org/knowledge-center