A Timeline of Degree Pathways at Highline
From Concept to Implementation
(just a brief reminder that although the term “Guided Pathways” is used in the timeline, it means the same as “Degree Pathways” for Highline)
(The below timeline is of the Guided [Degree] Pathways movement and how it came to Highline. As for Highline implementing Degree Pathways in its operations, you can see a selected timeline of activities and find a link to the entire plan.)
Pre-2014
According to Achieving the Dream, a non-profit organization focusing on improving community colleges through research-based evidence, “Most colleges in the US are built according to the cafeteria model: they offer lots of options for students and provide little if any guidance or support to students in making choices. The result has been that students nationwide have floundered in community colleges, racking up huge amounts of credit and debt, burning through financial aid, and often having very little to show for it.”
“Guided Pathways.” Achieving the Dream. (n.d.) (link)
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2014-2015
Building on previous research by Achieving the Dream and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, researchers from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) publish a report and then the 2015 book Redesigning America’s Community Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success. The report and book argued that to substantially improve graduation rates and narrow gaps in completion community colleges need to adopt a comprehensive reform model that has the entire college focusing on student success. The book proposes a guided pathways model that involves redesigning each part of the student experience, from the stage where students choose programs and start remedial or college-level work to the time of graduation, when they move on to further education or careers.in the workforce and further education in fields of economic importance to their regions.
Jenkins, Davis. “Redesigning Community Colleges for Student Success:
Overview of the Guided Pathways Approach.” Oct. 2014. (link)
Bailey, Thomas R, Jaggars S. Smith, and Davis Jenkins. Redesigning America’s Community
Colleges: A Clearer Path to Student Success. 2015. Link to this e-book in Highline Library
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2015
The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) develops its “Pathways Project.” 30 colleges participate in this project.
Jenkins, Dave. Implementing Guided Pathways: Early Insights From the AACC Pathways Colleges: Executive Summary. (April 2017). (link)
2016
College Spark Washington (CSW) pledges to grant more than $7million to SBCTC and the first Guided Pathways Cohort Colleges over eight years (2016-2024)
“History of Washington Guided Pathways.” State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. (Nov. 2019). (link)
2016 (July)
The WA State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) joins 13 other states in adopting the AACC movement to implement the Guided Pathways framework within our 34 college system. Everett Community College, Peninsula College, Pierce College, South Puget Sound Community College, and South Seattle College comprise the first of three cohorts of state colleges. Highline is in the third cohort.
“History of Washington Guided Pathways.”. (link)
2017
The Washington State Legislature approves $3million for the State Board over the course of two years to provide funding for SBCTC and early adopter colleges implementing Guided Pathways over the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school years.
2018
Seven more WA State community colleges, the second cohort, start to implement Guided Pathways.
“History of Washington Guided Pathways.” (link)
2019
Highline joins the third group of WA State community colleges implementing Guided Pathways.
2019 (April)
The Washington State Legislature passes the “Workforce Education Investment Act” An initial $2 million dollars is allocated to SBCTC for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. An additional $30.1 million dollars is provided specifically for Guided Pathways implementation at community and technical colleges for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
“History of Washington Guided Pathways.” (link)
2019 (Oct.)
Dr. John Mosby puts out a call to the Highline College community to serve on the 1st ever Guided Pathways Steering Committee – a collection of campus representatives to assist Highline College through this institutional change.” In his Nov. 2019 report to the Board of Trustees he writes that “I’m proud to say that the number of requests from the campus exceeded my expectations.”
Mosby, John. “Area Report for Board of Trustees”. (Nov. 21, 2019). (link)
2020 (Jan.)
Emily Lardner (V.P. for Academic Affairs) and May Lukens (consultant for Guided Pathways) call together a committee of the Guided Pathways Steering Committee Steering Committee Kick-off Institute. Over 40 cross-campus faculty, staff, and students participate by choosing to contribute on a core working group or the Advisory Board in developing a GP implementation plan. This plan consists of four priority areas with 12 teams working on different aspects of them.
Lardner, Emily. “Meeting Invitation.” (Jan. 16, 2020).
2020 (March-April)
In March 2020 the HIGHLINE COLLEGE Guided Pathways Implementation Work Plan is submitted to the SBCTC. Highline GP work teams continue their work on their specific responsibilities. In April 2020 the SBCTC approves Highline’s Implementation Work Plan.
Work Plan Timeline.” “Highline College Guided Pathways Implementation Work Plan.” (2020)
2020 (Oct.)
Highline is allocated $1,440,012 for the 2020-21 fiscal year for this effort. May Lukens, formerly working with Highline as a consultant, is named as Program Manager for Guided Pathways.
“Highline College Guided Pathways Newsletter (Winter 2021)
2021 (Feb.)
The initial Highline Guided Pathways Newsletter (Winter 2021) is distributed to the campus.