This session explored a frontier for further guided pathways innovation examined in CCRC’s new book, More Essential Than Ever: Community College Pathways to Education and Career Success. If colleges are to fulfill their critical roles in advancing upward mobility and community vibrancy, they need to help all students choose and plan a program of study that will prepare them for a good job and further education. With all students on a plan, colleges can schedule the courses students need when they need them and thus ensure students complete in as little time and cost as possible. In this session, CCRC researchers presented new findings on how community college students chose a program of study. Student success leaders from a large and small college featured as case studies in CCRC’s book discussed how they help students make plans aligned with their career interests and aspirations and ongoing efforts to further strengthen program selection, planning and completion supports.
