{"id":36458,"date":"2015-10-05T14:32:06","date_gmt":"2015-10-05T14:32:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=36458"},"modified":"2015-10-05T15:42:50","modified_gmt":"2015-10-05T15:42:50","slug":"futures-institute-gets-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/2015\/10\/05\/futures-institute-gets-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"Futures Institute gets underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Austin Community College\u2019s Futures Institute<\/a> is at work gathering information that will guide new strategies for helping students complete a degree or certificate on time and move on to career-path jobs or university classes.<\/p>\n

The group is exploring how college programs and services can be organized into easy-to-navigate \u201cguided pathways.\u201d Throughout September and October, members are meeting with various college constituencies and visiting other institutions to see the concept in practice.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more we learn through our research and discussions with others, the more excited we\u2019ve become about the potential this holds for ACC and its students,\u201d says Dr. Charles Cook, ACC executive vice president and provost.<\/p>\n

What are guided pathways?<\/h2>\n

Guided pathways refer to broad categories of majors \u2013 similar to individual colleges within a university \u2013 that are accompanied by targeted support services and interventions to keep students on track to graduation. The approach is detailed in the book “Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success,” co-authored by Dr. Davis Jenkins, a senior research associate at Columbia University.<\/p>\n

Jenkins visited ACC in September and presented examples of institutions that have successfully adopted guided pathways. He noted that recent ACC initiatives, like a mandated student success class and degree mapping tools, provide a good foundation for implementing the approach.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Davis Jenkins spoke with ACC faculty and staff, including Soon Merz and Dr. Charles Cook, during his September visit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cACC has a lot of things going for it. You have a lot in place,\u201d he told Futures Institute members and others from across the college who gathered to discuss challenges and strategies. \u201cThe key is to always keep the students in mind and the students\u2019 end in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jenkins said both faculty and advisers play essential roles in keeping students on track to their goals. \u201cAdvising is really critical to this,\u201d he said. \u201cThe relationship between students and faculty is powerful.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s important is the human connection. What we\u2019re really looking for is how to improve the connections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Focus teams<\/h2>\n

Futures Institute members have formed teams to focus on different parts of the college experience — from onboarding through completion. Teams will explore their areas on fact-finding visits to Miami Dade<\/a> College, City Colleges of Chicago<\/a>, and Sinclair Community College<\/a> in Dayton, Ohio. Teams are:<\/p>\n

\nConnect<\/em><\/strong>
\nTeresa Ashley
\nJosh Beach
\nAngie Diaz\u2010Miranda
\nRennison Lalgee
\nChristian Raymond
\nNancy Laudenslager.
\nTeam leaders: Susy Thomason, Soon Merz\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nEntry<\/em><\/strong>
\nNereida Celis
\nAlison Judice
\nVanessa Malo
\nRafael Ochoa
\nGiao Phan
\nEva Thomsen
\nTeam Leaders: Virginia Fraire, Charles Cook\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nProgress<\/em><\/strong>
\nNicole Eversmann
\nDeanna Johnson
\nStephanie Marquez
\nCatherine Mas
\nDon Morris
\nGrant Potts
\nTeam Leaders: Missi Patterson, Mike Midgley\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

\nCompletion<\/em><\/strong>
\nEstrella Barrera
\nLaura Lucas
\nMatthew Pappas
\nRuth Reinhart
\nAdam Rethlake
\nKelly Stockstad
\nTeam Leaders: Mary Gilmer, Christina Michura\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/p>\n

Join the conversation<\/h2>\n

In the spring Futures Institute members will work with administrators, faculty, and staff to convert their recommendations into a strategic, measureable plan for implementing guided pathways in fall 2016.<\/p>\n

To give input or ask questions about guided pathways, complete the Futures Institute survey form<\/a> or contact a Futures Institute member.<\/p>\n

Read more at Learn about guiding principles for guided pathways<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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