PCCs First Year Pathways Program Recognized Among Most Effective in Nation

Elected officials and higher education leaders from across the America came together at the St. Regis Washington, D.C. hotel on Tuesday to honor Pasadena City College’s First Year Pathways program as a finalist among America’s top programs that increase academic opportunities and increase achievement for Latino students.

PCC’s First Year Pathways was selected from among 217 competitors from 26 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as one of four Finalists in the Associate’s Level for the 2014 Examples of Excelencia award. Conceived and run by Excelencia in Education, this is the only national initiative to systematically identify, recognize, and catalogue evidence-based programs that improve Latino college success.

“Dedicated, hardworking faculty, counselors, and staff have created a highly effective program to improve student completion at PCC,” said Dr. Robert B. Miller, interim superintendent-president of PCC.  “I am incredibly proud of them, and the entire college is honored to have been selected by Excelencia in Education as a student success leader in California and the country. We will continue to grow our Pathways program until every student has a clear path to success.”

First Year Pathways is a program that provides students guaranteed full schedules – including difficult-to-get English and math courses – in the fall and spring semesters of their first year at the college. Led by a team of dedicated counselors and coaches, Pathways also provides students with the critical support they need outside of the classroom so that they can complete their academic goals in a timely manner.

In 2012, more than 800 students enrolled in the First Year Pathways program. In 2013, that number jumped to 1,400 students.

This year, Pathways staff members are serving almost 1,900 students.

“PCC’s five Pathways represent the work of many people on campus,” said Brock Klein, associate dean of Pathways and Professional Learning. “As the program grows, we all must remember that we can’t let students get lost in the shuffle. We want to continue to give personalized attention to each and every student enrolled in the program.”

Dr. Cynthia Olivo, PCC associate vice president of Student Services, added: “Ensuring that we create a sense of community in our large scale programs and services is critical for Latino students and all students. PCC has been able to achieve a great sense of community in our Pathways collaboration.”

Tuesday’s announcement event, Celebraciòn de Excelencia, coincided with the release of the 2014 edition of “What Works for Latino Student Success in Higher Education,” a compendium of all 29 recognized programs along with the evidence of their success.  Through this annual process, Excelencia in Education continues to grow America’s largest inventory of programs and strategies that education leaders, policymakers, and others tap into to accelerate degree completion among Latinos.

This is the ninth annual release of Examples of Excelencia. Excelencia in Education has systematically reviewed more than 700 programs to identify and recognize 125 programs and departments – including, for the first time this year, community-based organizations – that demonstrate with evidence that they effectively boost Latino enrollment, performance and graduation.

“As one of this year’s Finalists, Pasadena City College is at the forefront of meeting the challenge of improving higher educational achievement for Latino students,” said Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education. “No longer should policymakers and institutional leaders ask how to improve college success for Latinos – we have the largest accumulation of proven examples and tested strategies that show them how. Today’s question is do leaders have the will to put these practices into action.”

To download “What Works for Latino Student Success in Higher Education,” which includes detailed information about all of the programs recognized today, visit www.EdExcelencia.org.

For more information about PCC’s Pathways program, visit www.pasadena.edu/pathways.