College Futures Foundation awarded $687,000 in funding to support seven community colleges in the region to implement Guided Pathways initiatives from October 15, 2020, to June 30, 2022.
Guided Pathways provide students with clear course-taking patterns to encourage better enrollment decisions and a clearer path to graduation. “For Guided Pathways to work, colleges must implement an integrated, institution-wide approach to support students from the point of entry to attainment of high-quality postsecondary degrees and careers,” said Dr. Carlos Ayala, President and CEO of GIA. “This generous grant from College Futures Foundation will ensure professional development and support for Guided Pathways is available to all of our community colleges here in the Inland Empire.”
Five of the Inland Empire’s twelve community colleges have already been selected to participate in the statewide California Guided Pathways project. These colleges include; Chaffey College, Moreno Valley College, Norco College, Riverside City College, and Victor Valley College. Grant funding from College Futures Foundation supports the remaining seven colleges with coaching and guidance similar to what is being offered in the statewide program. These colleges include; Barstow College, College of the Desert, Copper Mountain College, Crafton Hills College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Palo Verde College, and San Bernardino Valley College.
GIA in partnership with Guided Pathways Regional Coordinators Angelica Ibarra and Leslie Valmonte, and national experts will provide customized direct support for individual campuses as well as professional development training and guidance on implementing Guided Pathways across all colleges in the region. Additionally, funding will allow GIA to host a regional Guided Pathways Virtual Summit, taking place on April 28-29, 2021. “This grant provides the necessary funds for the colleges to engage with the National Center for Inquiry & Improvement across several categories of support, said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, Chief Operating Officer of GIA. “These categories include two-day convenings for all 12 regional colleges, one-day workshops on key guided pathways issues, sub-regional sessions for groups of colleges facing similar challenges, and individual college site visits that are designed to support their institutional implementation.”