Pathways to Results ToTo Pathways Results

What is Pathways to Results? Improve student transition to college and careers Develop outcomes- and equity-focused Programs of Study Engage in 5-phase continuous improvement process

“PTR enhances relationships with students, colleagues, and other stakeholders and provides a systematic, formal framework for sustaining and building them.” - Melanie Phillips, Southwestern Illinois College Partnership

Background Led by Office of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL) Emerged from efforts to improve Programs of Study and student transitions PTR is growing: – Began with 6 sites ( ) – Grew to 18 sites ( ) – Added 9 new sites ( ) – Total of 27 sites ( )

Sponsors and Partners Illinois Community College Board Illinois State Board of Education Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Opportunity Joyce Foundation, Shifting Gears Initiative

Goals  Improve career cluster-based Programs of Study using an inquiry- and equity-focused, continuous improvement process  Improve outcomes for underserved students (racial and ethnic minority, low income, first generation college, special pops and others)  Use data to make evidence-based decisions  Align PTR to policies that seek to improve student transition to college and careers

Programs of Study in Illinois Access, equity & opportunity Alignment with NCLB, Higher Learning Commission Leadership, Organization & Support Alignment & Transition Partnerships with Business, Industry and the Community Improved curriculum & instruction Program accountability & improvement Professional preparation & development P-20 Pipeline: K-12, community college & university

Five Phases of PTR Engagement and Commitment Outcomes and Equity Assessment Process Assessment Process Improvement Review and Reflection

Why Equity? Demographics are changing Educational pipeline is leaking Disparities in outcomes exist and are growing among student groups Equity gaps must be addressed to improve the P-20 educational system

Phase One: Engagement and Commitment Engage leaders – form partnership & identify the PTR team Identify problem(s) and initial focus of the PTR project Identify student outcomes associated with the problem(s) Draft the charter

“All systems change requires the engagement of multiple stakeholders.” - Kristy Morelock, Illinois Community College Board

Phase Two: Outcomes and Equity Assessment Introduce PTR’s definition of equity Examine outcomes (e.g., remediation, retention and completion) by student group Identify areas of success in student outcomes Identify gaps pointing to inequities between student groups that need to be addressed

Phase Three: Process Assessment Examine how processes currently operate Map one or more processes that relate to the identified problem(s) Examine each step in the process and identify steps that contribute to inequities in student outcomes

“I was most motivated by the mapping process, which helped define our tasks and the goals we could reasonably attain.” - Lorrie McDonald, Parkland College Partnership

Phase Four: Process Improvement Create an implementation plan to address identified problem(s) Create a plan to evaluate implementation (what’s working and what’s not?) Engage in implementation and evaluation

“Because of the PTR process, students were able to create the link between continuing their education and employment.” - Mark Grzybowski, Illinois Valley Community College Partnership

Phase Five: Review and Reflection Engage in individual reflection Create team reflection (story) Sustain and scale-up solutions Apply improvements to other Programs of Study

“It seemed that every meeting had a snowball effect. Review, revision, and program improvement in one area had positive effects on another.” - Sherry Hott, Southwestern Illinois College Partnership

PTR Video

PTR Home Page ToTo Pathways Results

OCCRL  OCCRL –  PH:  Website: occrl.illinois.edu  PTR website: occrl.illinois.edu/projects/PTR