Community colleges’ initial engagement with students has traditionally focused on orientation to the college and the provision of information about administrative policies and procedures. Yet, as part of whole-college reform efforts, a growing number of community colleges are adopting new onboarding practices to better introduce students to available programs and related career pathways and to help students weigh their own interests and strengths in choosing an academic and career path.
This brief describes findings from faculty and staff interviews at four colleges (in California, Maryland, Ohio, and Texas) about students’ experiences exploring and selecting a program of study. As people who interact a great deal with students and who are knowledgeable about program and career options, faculty members, advisors, career counselors, and other student services staff are an integral part of onboarding. Their perceptions provide valuable insights into how students experience the program choice process and what colleges can do to support that process.
The authors discuss findings from the interviews in three key areas: the types of supports colleges offer related to program and career exploration, barriers students face in the program choice process, and challenges colleges face in facilitating program choice. They conclude with implications for improving supports to help students explore and select a program.