• 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
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

Readings & Resources

These resources focus on implementing guided pathways and challenges facing colleges in rural communities. They come from NCII, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, CivicLab, the Community College Research Center (CCRC), and Next Chapter Communications.

Engaging Faculty and Staff

  • Guided Pathways Demystified I (NCII)
  • Guided Pathways Demystified II (NCII)
  • Inside Story: How Community Colleges Can Use Internal Communications to Advance Transformational Change (Next Chapter Communications) 
  • Voices of Pathways film series (Next Chapter Communications)

Engaging Community Partners

  • The Partnership Imperative: Community Colleges, Employers, and America’s Chronic Skills Gap (Harvard Business School and AACC)
  • Using Guided Pathways to Build Cross-Sector Pathways Partnerships (CCRC)
  • The Stakeholder Engagement Process (CivicLab)

Onboarding

  • Research Evidence on Community College Ask-Connect-Inspire-Plan Onboarding Practices (CCRC)
  • Redesigning Community College Student Onboarding Through Guided Pathways (CCRC)
  • Research Evidence on Community College Ask-Connect-Inspire-Plan Onboarding Practices (CCRC)

Programs of Study

  • Unpacking Program Enrollments and Completions With Equity in Mind (CCRC)
  • The Dual Enrollment Playbook: A Guide to Equitable Acceleration for Students (Aspen Institute College Excellence Program)

Workforce

  • A Student-Centered Vision for Workplace Development (James Jacobs, President Emeritus, Macomb Community College)
  • Rural Transfer Pathways: Balancing Individual and Community Needs (Aspen Institute College Excellence Program)
  • The Workforce Playbook: A Community College Guide to Delivering Excellent Career and Technical Education (Aspen Institute College Excellence Program)

Funding Guided Pathways

  • Funding Guided Pathways Reforms at Small Colleges: Three Ohio Community Colleges Show How to Do It (CCRC)

Student Financial Stability

  • TED Talk: Columbus State Community College (OH), presented at Institute #4
  • TED Talk: Norco College (CA), presented at Institute #4
  • Student Financial Stability Webinar – Recording (NCII)
  • Student Financial Stability Webinar – Slides (NCII)
  • Student Financial Stability Demystified (NCII)
  • What Does Student Financial Stability Look Like in the Student Experience? (NCII)

Opportunity and Excellence

  • Rural Community College Excellence: A Guide to Delivering Strong Opportunity for Students and Communities (Aspen Institute College Excellence Program)
  • How to Achieve More Equitable Community College Student Outcomes: Lessons From Six Years of CCRC Research on Guided Pathways (CCRC)

Rural Community College Leader Series

  • The Big Picture (NCII)
  • Brief 1: Creating a College-Going Mindset (NCII)
  • Brief 2: Acting Boldly to Build Financial Solvency (NCII)
  • Brief 3: Cultivating Partnerships to Support Students’ Basic Needs (NCII)
  • Brief 4: Diversifying Faculty at Rural Colleges (NCII)
  • Brief 5: Redesigning Advising and Support Services (NCII)
  • Brief 6: Collaborating to Create Regional Economic Opportunity (NCII)

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