Success Stories + Impact
Stories that highlight innovative approaches, lessons learned, and tangible outcomes from institutions that are reimagining higher education to support more students and promote engagement and success at scale.
Trailblazers Driving Meaningful Change
These stories offer practical examples and inspiration for colleges looking to implement or enhance their Guided Pathways efforts. From grassroots creativity to statewide initiatives, explore how these trailblazers are driving meaningful change.
Guided Pathways at Kirkwood Community College
This impact study explores Kirkwood Community College’s implementation of the Guided Pathways framework to support student success. Through self-study and strategic planning, the college improved advising, onboarding, and career-aligned pathways, leading to increased student persistence and retention.
Guided Pathways at Kirkwood Community College
Guided Pathways at Kirkwood Community CollegeBehind the Scenes of Guided Pathways Implementation at Greenfield Community College
This article examines Greenfield Community College’s (GCC) Guided Pathways implementation to address declining enrollment, retention, and completion rates. Through success coaches, program consolidation, and co-requisite math support, GCC streamlined pathways, aligned programs with workforce needs, and advanced statewide reform efforts.
Behind the Scenes of Guided Pathways Implementation at Greenfield Community College
Behind the Scenes of Guided Pathways Implementation at Greenfield Community CollegePathways Through the Bluegrass: Reform at Bluegrass Community and Technical College
This article explores Bluegrass Community and Technical College’s (BCTC) Guided Pathways reforms. By defining Career Pathways, redesigning advising, launching MyMajors, and creating Pathway Learning Communities, BCTC improved retention, graduation rates, and student engagement.
Pathways Through the Bluegrass: Reform at Bluegrass Community and Technical College
Pathways Through the Bluegrass: Reform at Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegeListen to Me: Community College Students Tell Us What Helps Them Persist
The Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) created “Listen to Me: Community College Students Tell Us What Helps Them Persist” for college practitioners to enhance student success. Based on 2021-2022 focus groups, it explores Guided Pathways, highlighting student challenges and best practices for improving persistence.
Listen to Me: Community College Students Tell Us What Helps Them Persist
Listen to Me: Community College Students Tell Us What Helps Them PersistHow Ohio Community Colleges Are Using Guided Pathways to Personalize Student Support
This impact study details how Ohio’s community colleges are innovating within the Guided Pathways model to enhance student onboarding. It highlights strategies for personalizing career exploration, program selection, and advising while showcasing cost-effective approaches to improving student support and student achievement.
How Ohio Community Colleges Are Using Guided Pathways to Personalize Student Support
How Ohio Community Colleges Are Using Guided Pathways to Personalize Student Support How Ohio Community Colleges Are Using Guided Pathways to Personalize Student SupportHow guided pathways reforms can improve support for adult students: Lessons from three Tennessee community colleges
This impact study explores how Motlow State, Nashville State, and Pellissippi State integrated targeted support for adult students within Guided Pathways reforms. By addressing different and overlapping student needs, these colleges implemented multi-pronged strategies to enhance adult student success.
How guided pathways reforms can improve support for adult students- Lessons from three Tennessee community colleges
How guided pathways reforms can improve support for adult students: Lessons from three Tennessee community colleges How guided pathways reforms can improve support for adult students: Lessons from three Tennessee community collegesApproaching Institutional Change With Clarity and Commitment: Guided Pathways at Wallace State Community College
This impact study details Wallace State Community College’s Guided Pathways implementation as the “glue” for student success initiatives. Through an inclusive, transparent approach, faculty and staff collaborated to shape reforms and align efforts toward shared goals.
Approaching Institutional Change With Clarity and Commitment- Guided Pathways at Wallace State Community College
Approaching Institutional Change With Clarity and Commitment: Guided Pathways at Wallace State Community College Approaching Institutional Change With Clarity and Commitment: Guided Pathways at Wallace State Community CollegeBalancing Urgency and Patience: How Community College of Philadelphia Set the Pace for Guided Pathways Reform
This impact study details how Community College of Philadelphia’s (CCP) used the Guided Pathways framework to address shared concerns, phase in changes, and build on existing practices. It also shares how college leaders secured faculty and staff buy-in amid collective bargaining negotiations.
Balancing Urgency and Patience- How Community College of Philadelphia Set the Pace for Guided Pathways Reform
Balancing Urgency and Patience: How Community College of Philadelphia Set the Pace for Guided Pathways Reform Balancing Urgency and Patience: How Community College of Philadelphia Set the Pace for Guided Pathways ReformCollaborating to Break Down Barriers to Student Success: Guided Pathways Reforms at San Jacinto College
This impact study details how San Jacinto College’s used a Guided Pathways redesign to remove institutional barriers to student success. Faculty and staff used process mapping and “Framework Fridays”—weekly forums for collaboration—to enhance the student experience and drive reform.
Collaborating to Break Down Barriers to Student Success- Guided Pathways Reforms at San Jacinto College
Collaborating to Break Down Barriers to Student Success: Guided Pathways Reforms at San Jacinto College Collaborating to Break Down Barriers to Student Success: Guided Pathways Reforms at San Jacinto CollegeFrom Pockets of Excellence to Engaged Innovation at Scale: Guided Pathways Reforms at Cuyahoga Community College
This impact study details how Cuyahoga Community College engaged faculty and staff in decision-making to scale Guided Pathways, using it as a framework to strengthen and connect existing student success initiatives rather than a wholly new reform.
From Pockets of Excellence to Engaged Innovation at Scale- Guided Pathways Reforms at Cuyahoga Community College
From Pockets of Excellence to Engaged Innovation at Scale: Guided Pathways Reforms at Cuyahoga Community College From Pockets of Excellence to Engaged Innovation at Scale: Guided Pathways Reforms at Cuyahoga Community CollegeWild Thinkers: Linn-Benton Community College’s Creative and Collaborative Approach to Guided Pathways Reform
This impact study details Linn-Benton Community College’s grassroots approach to Guided Pathways. By prioritizing faculty and staff creativity, the college fostered a cultural transformation, ensuring guided pathways became an integrated, long-term strategy rather than a standalone project.
Wild Thinkers- Linn-Benton Community College’s Creative and Collaborative Approach to Guided Pathways Reform
Wild Thinkers: Linn-Benton Community College’s Creative and Collaborative Approach to Guided Pathways Reform Wild Thinkers: Linn-Benton Community College’s Creative and Collaborative Approach to Guided Pathways ReformBuilding Guided Pathways to Community College Student Success: Promising Practices and Early Evidence From Tennessee
This impact study details how Tennessee’s community colleges implemented Guided Pathways and offers insights on program mapping, math pathways, career exploration, advising redesign, and early evidence of improved student outcomes.
Building Guided Pathways to Community College Student Success: Promising Practices and Early Evidence From Tennessee