Growing Inland Achievement

Category: Guided Pathway

  • Over 280 Education Leaders Join Together for Inland Empire/Desert Guided Pathways Summit

    Over 280 Education Leaders Join Together for Inland Empire/Desert Guided Pathways Summit

    Over 280 participants from all twelve community colleges in the Inland Empire as well as other regional and statewide educators convened virtually on April 29-30 for the Inland Empire/Desert Guided Pathways Summit presented by Growing Inland Achievement. Guided Pathways provide students with clear course-taking patterns to encourage better enrollment decisions and a clearer path to graduation.

    Picture of Zoom meeting with Robert Johnstone, Monica Lozano, and Eloy Ortiz Oakley
    Summit Keynote Session with Rob Johnstone, Monica Lozano, and Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley

    With Robert Johnstone from National Center for Inquiry and Improvement as the emcee, event participants engaged with other leaders in higher education from throughout the country.  “We were honored to have Monica Lozano of the College Futures Foundation and Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley provide keynote addresses followed by a panel discussion on the importance of community colleges, Guided Pathways, and regional work,” Said Carlos Ayala, President & CEO of Growing Inland Achievement.

     

    In another session, Tia Brown McNair, Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), provided insights into the connection between equity and Guided Pathways.

    “We achieved our goals of having participants share and teach about their promising practices and linking equity and Guided Pathways,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, Chief Operations Officer for Growing Inland Achievement. “We remain confident that the Inland Empire is motivated to continue the regional collaboration on Guided Pathways and that the colleges are excited and committed to its implementation.”

    Recordings of Summit sessions are available online at: https://gia.echofactory.dev/guided-pathways-summit/

    The Inland Empire/Desert Guided Pathways Summit was made possible through support from the College Futures Foundation.

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  • College Futures Foundation Provides $687,000 to Support Regional Guided Pathways Work in the Inland Empire

    College Futures Foundation Provides $687,000 to Support Regional Guided Pathways Work in the Inland Empire

    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.”

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