Phase 2 of the Rural Guided Pathways Project Includes 28 Colleges and Runs for Three Years (2025–27)
MARIETTA, OHIO — Washington State College of Ohio will participate in Phase 2 of the Rural Guided Pathways Project, continuing the work it began in Phase 1. 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.
WSCO President, Dr. Sarah Parker, is proud of the improvements that have resulted from the changes that were implemented in Phase 1. “At Washington State College of Ohio, we are committed to breaking down barriers to education and ensuring that every student has a clear, achievable path to success. Through the first phase of our Rural Guided Pathways initiative, we have transformed our curriculum to make college more accessible, removing remedial coursework, shifting to 8-week course models for better focus, and enhancing advising to help students see a direct connection between their education and a career with a livable wage. These changes are already making a meaningful impact, allowing more students to complete their degrees efficiently and step confidently into the workforce,” says Dr. Parker.
Dr. Parker continues to address the work WSCO has done with its advisory boards and K-12 educators to help students in their transition from classroom to career fields. “We’ve worked closely with our advisory boards and K-12 educators to ensure that students receive seamless support from the classroom to their careers. By strengthening these connections between educators, employers, and community leaders, we’re creating a unified approach to student success,” shares Dr. Parker.
Phase 2 of Rural Pathways builds on the incredible progress colleges made during Phase 1 of the project. See the Breakthrough Moment about Washington State College of Ohio for details about its work 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 address inequity and lead to improved educational and workforce outcomes.
Rural Pathways provides a deliberate venue for rural college practitioners to collaborate while they work to improve student outcomes. Historically, rural community college leaders have not had many opportunities to problem-solve around the student success and completion issues that are particular to their culture, context, and capacity. They often struggle to apply strategies — even those that work well at urban and suburban institutions — in their rural context.
Rural Pathways gives rural colleges opportunities to work through challenging issues and collaborate with peer institutions, all in the context of a learning community that provides a broad range of supports.
The role of community partners also sets Rural Pathways apart. Throughout the three-year project, regional partners are an integral part of each college’s team and deeply embedded in pathways implementation. The value of involving external stakeholders in pathways work — and giving them specific roles and responsibilities — is amplified in rural settings, where students’ education, residents’ economic mobility, and the regional economy are so closely intertwined.
“We are excited to have Washington State College of Ohio continue its participation in Rural Pathways,” says Gretchen Schmidt, senior fellow, National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII). “Rural institutions have not had many opportunities to problem-solve around the student success and completion issues that are particular to their culture, context, and capacity. By being part of Rural Pathways, Washington State College of Ohio is demonstrating its commitment to making lasting changes that will improve student outcomes.”
NCII provides the project leadership for Rural Pathways. A team of implementation coaches, leadership coaches, and subject matter experts join NCII in working with participating colleges and developing the project’s curriculum. NCII also builds on longstanding partnerships with the Community College Research Center and the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program to support participating colleges.
For more information about Rural Pathways, visit ruralguidedpathways.org.
