CGCC has been selected to participate in Phase 2 of the Rural Guided Pathways Project. Colleges that are part of Rural Pathways work with each other — and with community partners in their regions — to implement evidence-based, institution-wide reforms grounded in the guided pathways framework. The project’s rural focus and in-depth participation of community partners set it apart from other guided pathways efforts.
Phase 1 of Rural Pathways ran from 2022-2024 and included 16 rural colleges across the United States.
“Joining the Rural Guided Pathways Project will deepen Columbia Gorge Community College’s efforts to advance student success and foster inclusive prosperity throughout the communities we serve,” says CGCC President Dr. Kenneth Lawson. “This initiative allows us to work closely with other rural colleges and community partners to ensure our students achieve their goals while contributing to the economic vitality of our region.”
Phase 2 of Rural Pathways builds on the incredible progress colleges made during Phase 1 of the project, and has expanded to 28 colleges, many of which are continuing the work they started in Phase 1, and will run from 2025 through 2027.
Participating colleges commit to:
- Designing and implementing a better student experience at their colleges.
- Ensuring that more students earn credentials and move on to living-wage jobs or transfer to a four-year institution with junior status.
- Collaborating with key stakeholders to increase economic opportunity in their region and be partners in the implementation of a cross-sector approach to guided pathways.
- Implementing evidence-based reforms that will address inequity and lead to improved educational and workforce outcomes.
Rural Pathways provides a deliberate venue for rural college practitioners to collaborate while they work to improve student outcomes. Historically, rural community college leaders have not had many opportunities to problem-solve around the student success and completion issues that are particular to their culture, context, and capacity. They often struggle to apply strategies — even those that work well at urban and suburban institutions — in their rural context.
The role of community partners also sets Rural Pathways apart. Throughout the three-year project, regional partners are an integral part of each college’s team and deeply embedded in pathways implementation. The value of involving external stakeholders in pathways work — and giving them specific roles and responsibilities — is amplified in rural settings, where students’ education, residents’ economic mobility, and the regional economy are so closely intertwined.
“Guided Pathways provides a framework that aligns education with the unique needs of our rural students and local industries,” says CGCC Vice President of Instruction Dr. Jarett Gilbert. “We are excited to use this opportunity to enhance equitable access, improve workforce outcomes, and strengthen connections between our students and communities.” This work is about creating lasting positive impact — for individuals, families, and the entire Columbia Gorge region.”
“We are excited to have CGCC join in the Rural Pathways project,” says Gretchen Schmidt, senior fellow, National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII). “Rural institutions have not had many opportunities to problem-solve around the student success and completion issues that are particular to their culture, context, and capacity. By joining Rural Pathways, CGCC is demonstrating its commitment to making lasting changes that will improve student outcomes.”
NCII provides the project leadership for Rural Pathways. A team of implementation coaches, leadership coaches, and subject matter experts join NCII in working with participating colleges and developing the project’s curriculum. NCII also builds on longstanding partnerships with the Community College Research Center and the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program to support participating colleges.
For more information about this transformative initiative and its impact on rural colleges like CGCC, visit ruralguidedpathways.org.