Guided Pathways
At San José City College, the Guided Pathways model creates a highly structured approach to student success that:
- Provides all students with a set of clear course-taking patterns that promotes better enrollment decisions and prepares students for future success.
- Integrates support services in ways that make it easier for students to get the help they need during every step of their community college experience.
Four Pillars of Guided Pathways
- Create clear curricular pathways to employment and further education.
- Help students choose and enter their pathway.
- Help students stay on their path.
- Ensure that learning is happening with intentional outcomes.
Key Elements of Guided Pathways
- Structured onboarding processes including improved placement tests and co-requisite instruction that provide students with clear, actionable, and usable information they need to get off to the right start in college.
- Redesigning and integrating basic skills/developmental education classes to accelerate students to college-level classes.
- Programs that are fully mapped out and aligned with further education and career advancement while also providing structured or guided exploration for undecided students.
- Proactive academic and career advising from the start through completion and/or transfer, with an assigned point of contact at each stage.
- Responsive student tracking systems aligned with interventions and resources to help students stay on the pathway, persist, and progress.
- Instructional support and co-curricular activities aligned with classroom learning and career interests.