The Peninsula College student experience, from entrance to degree completion, just took a big step toward streamlined efficiency thanks to state grants and an initiative that aims to simplify student choices.
PC is one of five colleges that was selected by College Spark Washington and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to receive Guided Pathways implementation grants totaling $2.5 million over five years.
Guided Pathways is an evidence-based approach that simplifies choices about college courses, informs and supports those choices and directs students into an intentional, comprehensive program of study that leads to a credential.
“The process from college entrance to program selection to degree completion is streamlined, providing students with a much clearer, more efficient path to completion,” said Christine McCabe, executive director at College Spark Washington.
“We’ve been focused on student success and completion for several years and the recent Guided Pathways approach builds on and clarifies our work to date,” said PC President Dr. Luke Robins.
Five colleges, of 18 that applied, were selected to receive implementation grants including:
• Everett Community College
• Peninsula College
• Pierce College
• South Puget Sound Community College
• South Seattle College
Selection criteria focused on identifying colleges that are in the best position to fully implement Guided Pathways.
With this initiative, five colleges will receive Guided Pathways implementation grants this year. A second cohort of five additional colleges will be selected to receive implementation grants in 2018. Each college receives $500,000 in grant funding over five years.
During the first implementation year, the five pilot colleges will create plans for how they will implement Guided Pathways. To support their efforts, SBCTC will provide colleges with technical assistance, convene teams quarterly and facilitate opportunities for the pilot colleges to learn from other Guided Pathways colleges in the nation and experts in the field of institutional change management.
For more information, contact Laura McDowell at lmcdowell@sbctc.edu or 360-704-4310.
