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Rural Guided PathwaysRural Guided Pathways
  • About
    • Focus on Rural Colleges
    • Community Partners
    • Videos: Why Rural?
    • Colleges
      • 2025–27 Colleges
      • College Service Areas
      • College Lead Contacts
    • Curriculum
    • Key Dates
    • Project Partners
    • Funders
    • Press
  • Experts
    • Expertise
    • Implementation Coaches
    • Leadership Coaches
    • Coaching Assignments
    • Subject Matter Experts
  • Breakthrough Moments
  • Institute Materials
    • Institute #1
    • Phase 1
      • Institute #1
      • Institute #2
      • Institute #3
      • Institute #4
      • Institute #5
      • Institute #6
  • Resources
  • NCII

Announcing Rural Pathways Phase 2

Phase 2 of the Rural Guided Pathways Project has begun! Phase 2 builds on the incredible progress colleges made during Phase 1 of the 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 2 includes 28 colleges, many of which are continuing the work they started in Phase 1. 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 lead to improved educational and workforce outcomes.

All 28 colleges will be a single cohort. Phase 2 will run from 2025 through 2027. Phase 1 included 16 colleges and ran from 2022 through 2024.

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