Guided Pathways Orientation and First-Year Experience

September 2, 2020

Fellows:
Amanda Ehman, Rio Grande Community College
Jason Gibson, Lorain County Community College
David Shaffer, Owens Community College
Elizabeth Kline, Zane State College

Project Advisor:
Ryan McCall, Marion Technical College

Executive Summary:
Students across the nation are taking courses that do not apply to their program of study, which is resulting in increased student debt and time to degree completion. Coming into college, students are not focusing on career exploration and taking course that do not apply towards their end degree, while some students never complete. By examining the best practices in first-year experience courses, academic planning, and student orientation, the problems related to degree completion and student debt should improve.