GUIDED PATHWAYS:
A ROUTE TO SUCCESS
NEW SUMMER AND FALL 2021
Lake Land students will enter the college under a new college-wide system called Guided Pathways to Success. The following Q & A explains the benefits.
Q. WHAT IS A GUIDED PATHWAY?
A guided pathway is designed to provide students with an easy-to-use plan including the sequence of courses they should take to complete an academic program in a timely manner and transfer to a four-year university or enter the workforce. On a guided pathway, students may choose an exploratory area of study or a specific major to guide them toward their further educational and career goals.
Q. WHAT IS AN AREA OF STUDY?
An Area of Study is an umbrella for a cluster of academic majors focused on a specific industry field. For example, the Lake Land College Architectural & Construction Area of Study consists of Building Construction Technology, Civil Engineering Technology, Computer Aided Design Technology, Geospatial Technology, Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration and Residential Wiring.
THE 10 AREAS OF STUDY ARE: AGRICULTURE ARCHITECTURAL & CONSTRUCTION
Much like the navigation tools used on smartphones, it includes the route students take to connect with, enter, progress through and complete a program of study, as well as the skills they need to “IT WILL TAKE YOU ON acquire for THE FASTEST ROUTE. success in the workforce. IT WILL ALSO ALLOW Programs have integrated checkpoints along the way to ensure students are staying on the path.
YOU TO TAKE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE, BUT IN THE END YOU STILL GET TO YOUR DESTINATION." -DARCI CATHER, DEAN OF GUIDED PATHWAYS
BUSINESS EDUCATION HEALTH & PUBLIC SERVICES HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING
Q. WHAT IF A STUDENT DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO STUDY?
With the new Guided Pathways system, students who are undecided or uncertain of a major, will select one of the 10 exploratory areas of study and then complete coursework and career exploration during the first and second semesters that should help them narrow their choices and make a selection.
Q. WHY IS LAKE LAND COLLEGE IMPLEMENTING GUIDED PATHWAYS?
The college’s 2019-2022 Strategic Plan focuses on two key focus areas, one of which is Guided Pathways to Success (GPS). The Guided Pathways to Success Model supports the strategic plan goals of advancing student success and fulfilling the evolving and emerging education and training needs.
Q. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO STUDENTS?
This new model allows students to shape their college experience in the most beneficial and efficient ways possible to orchestrate success and goal achievement. Following this model, students are urged to follow the “15 to finish” approach. This initiative encourages students to take 15 credit hours each semester to allow completion of a degree within two years. “It is a lot like the GPS system in a vehicle,” Dean of Guided Pathways Darci Cather said. “It will take you on the fastest route. It will also allow you to take an alternative route, but in the end you still get to your destination.”
MATH & SCIENCE TRANSPORTATION
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