NORFOLK, Neb. – Northeast Community College has been selected to participate in a three-year project with 15 other rural community colleges across the country to work together to implement a framework designed to assist students as they progress through college and complete their educational goals.
The colleges were chosen through a competitive application process for the National Center for Inquiry and Improvement’s (NCII) Rural Guided Pathways Project. Selected colleges demonstrated the internal culture and positive external partnerships necessary to implement Guided Pathways.
Guided Pathways is a movement that seeks to streamline a student's journey through college by providing structured choice, revamped support, and clear learning outcomes - helping more students achieve their college completion goals.
“In essence, we want to meet students where they are in their educational journey and help them meet their goal whether that be an associate degree leading directly to a job, certifications for workforce, English language learning, or in the preparation needed to transfer to a four-year institution and beyond,” said Dr. Leah Barrett, Northeast president. “This project is the first of its kind in that community partners will be embedded in this work alongside colleges throughout the project.”
Barrett said six community partners will join Northeast in the work to create better student experiences and increase the economic and social mobility of the 20-county region. Partners include Tyson Foods, Wayne State College, South Sioux City Schools, Pathways to Tomorrow (P2T), Northeast Nebraska Growing Together, and the Peter Kiewit Foundation.
“These partners have a shared vision of improving educational and workforce outcomes for those we serve,” Barrett said.
Support to the colleges and community partners will be funded by the Ascendium Education Group through August 2024.
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