SPC President Dr. Tonjua Williams and Senior Director at Jobs for the Future, Jennifer Freeman, talk about ruminating guided career pathways in order to make good on the promise of community college completion and set up students for today’s labor market.
Well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, St. Petersburg College has been working to ensure students achieve academic success and economic mobility through industry-backed programs and short-term training credentials.
Guided pathways are rooted in a two-year, semester-based model that does not reflect the current need for rapid reskilling and a world of work being transformed by technology. It is not tailored for today’s community college students, who are older and often balancing family and career obligations alongside their education. The once-groundbreaking guided pathways approach is in need of a refresh.
Short-term stackable credentials can quickly lead to high-quality jobs in high-demand industries. This allows students to immediately apply the skills they have learned through their short-term program, and then easily return to college to further their education.
Once enrolled, students must have easy access to resources that can help them stay on track. Colleges can collaborate with workforce development boards and community-based organizations to provide the holistic support and case management services many students need.
Read the full op-ed to learn more about guided career pathways.