
National Convening Recap
Thanks to all who attended our #Micropathways National Convening on Jan. 19, 2022!
+ Read a recap of the Convening
+ Watch the recording on YouTube
+ View the presentation slides (PDF)
+ Download our Design Insights Brief
+ Explore all 30+ micro-pathways
+ Learn more at the Community College Growth Engine Fund website
+ Join the conversation on Twitter with #Micropathways
#Micropathways: A Gateway to Community College Transformation
A Community College Growth Engine Fund (#CCGEF) National Convening
Have we found the gateway to community college transformation?
This is the question posed in this CCDaily op-ed … and the answer could be micro-pathways. Specifically, the innovative energy unlocked during the process of designing micro-pathways.
What are micro-pathways?
These employer-validated credentials take less than a year to earn and connect low-wage and entry-level workers to in-demand jobs that pay at-or-above median wage. Micro-pathways also stack to a degree, which can be earned later or part-time while working.
The Community College Growth Engine Fund, led by Dr. Lisa Larson, is a design accelerator that was set up just before the pandemic to help community colleges lean into a future role as regional talent agents in a skills-based economy. Six of the nation’s largest community colleges and systems joined the Fund’s first cohort, surpassing their goals by designing 30 micro-pathways in the first year. Each system or college received a startup award through the Fund, which is supported by over 15 foundations and investors.
Community college leaders, employers, funders, and learners will convene Jan. 19 to share their progress. We invite you to join this critical conversation.
#Micropathways: A Gateway to Community College Transformation
On the Agenda
PART 1: Why micro-pathways?
College executives, funders + industry partners — along with the voices of learners — will discuss how micro-pathways expand access to living-wage job opportunities, close skills gaps, and address talent shortages.
- Dr. Shouan Pan, Chancellor, Seattle Colleges
- Courtenay Gebhardt, Founder, Blue Sound Construction, Inc.
- Carolynn Lee, Senior Program Officer, Ascendium
- Dr. Lisa Larson, Education Design Lab
PART 2: Micro-pathway models
Colleges will present micro-pathways co-designed with the Lab + employers, celebrate Year 1 successes, and reflect on challenges + opportunities.
- Dr. Ian Roark, Pima Community College
- Dr. Stacy Townsley, Ivy Tech Community College
- Dr. Donna McLean-Grant, Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Hannah Weinstock, LaGuardia Community College
- Meghan Williams, Borough of Manhattan Community College
- Jessica Cinelli, Kingsborough Community College
- June Evans, Prince George’s Community College
- Dr. Sara Lundquist, Education Design Lab
PART 3: A gateway to community college transformation?
The Lab and college leaders will discuss the transformational changes catalyzed by the micro-pathways design process.
- Lee Lambert, J.D., Chancellor, Pima Community College
- Dr. Sue Ellspermann, President, Ivy Tech Community College
- Dr. Rufus Glasper, President + CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College
- Kathleen deLaski, Founder + CEO, Education Design Lab

Connect with Us
About Education Design Lab
The Lab is a national nonprofit that co-designs, prototypes, and tests education-to-workforce models through a human-centered design process focused on understanding learners’ experiences, addressing equity gaps in higher education, and connecting learners to economic mobility. The Lab’s process also shows higher education leaders how to consider the needs of employers, using the curriculum and program design as a gateway to make skills more visible to students and employers alike.
To get in touch, contact our team at ccgef@eddesignlab.org
Follow our work on Twitter @eddesignlab #Micropathways
Connect on LinkedIn at Education Design Lab
Press + Media
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EdSurge column: The power of micro-credentials
In his March 23, 2023, column, Mordecai I. Brownlee, president of the Community College of Aurora (Colorado), explains how micro-credentials co-designed with employers and the Education Design Lab are creating more affordable academic options.View Story -
Community College Daily: Fast-track learning
Pima Community College's micro-pathways are featured in this January 2023 excerpt from Community College Journal, the bimonthly magazine of the American Association of Community Colleges.View Story -
Higher Ed Dive: Can higher education really be redesigned to connect learners and the workforce?
Bill Hughes, Education Design Lab’s CEO, talks about the nonprofit’s work in this October 2022 Q&A with Higher Ed Dive.View Story -
Hechinger Report: Rethinking community college supports for single moms
The Lab's Single Moms Success Design Challenge was featured in this Sept. 16, 2022, story in The Hechinger Report.View Story -
Open Campus: Can virtual welding help solve the density challenge?
Robert Nye, president of Finger Lakes Community College and BRIDGES Rural partner, talks about their GRIT pilot program in this Sept. 8, 2022, Mile Markers story.View Story -
Podcast: Catalyzing Change in Rural Spaces
Senior Education Designer Leslie Daugherty, EdD, joins Episode 9 of the Rural College Student Experience podcast, July 19, 2022.View Story -
Inside Higher Ed: Concrete ways to teach students resilience
In his June 29, 2022, op-ed for Inside Higher Ed, Brian LaDuca writes about the resilience micro-credential the University of Dayton created in collaboration with the Lab.View Story -
eCampusNews: How two institutions tackle micro-credentials
Two Lab partners — the University of Maine System and Pima Community College — are featured in this June 20, 2022, story published by eCampusNews.View Story -
Micro-pathways: An urgent gateway for community college transformation
Op-ed by Lab Founder + CEO Kathleen deLaski published on June 15, 2022, by the Charles Koch Foundation.View Story -
Trending in Ed podcast: Skills Visibility and Equity with Kathleen deLaski
Podcast published on May 23, 2022, by Trending in Education. Interview by Mike Palmer.View Story -
eCampus News: Is K-12 ready for skills-based hiring?
Op-ed by Lab Founder + CEO Kathleen deLaski. Published May 9, 2022.View Story -
Washingtonian: Lab Founder + CEO Kathleen deLaski among D.C.’s Most Influential People
Washington D.C.'s 500 Most Influential People. Published May 3, 2022, by Washingtonian magazine.View Story -
Rural Matters podcast: The incredible work of Education Design Lab + partners
A podcast interview with the BRIDGES Rural project team, including Leslie Daugherty, Kathy Temple-Miller, Dana Cotton, and Joe Davis. Interview by Michelle Rathman. Published April 10, 2022.View Story -
Podcast on skills visibility: The changing relationship between learners, employers, and education
A podcast interview by Ramona Schindelheim, Editor-in-Chief, WorkingNation. Published April 5, 2022.View Story -
Three prominent CC leaders discuss importance of transformative micro-credentials and micro-pathways
By George Lorenzo, Workforce Monitor, Published Feb. 9, 2022View Story -
Not your typical shop class: New CTE program requires lessons in social skills
By Olivia Sanchez, The Hechinger Report, Published Jan. 21, 2022View Story -
Country’s largest community colleges work to expand microcredentials
By Elin Johnson, Work Shift (Open Campus Network), Published Jan. 18, 2022View Story -
Revamping short-term credential pathways
Community College Daily Staff, Published Jan 18, 2022View Story -
Have we found the gateway to transform community colleges?
Community College Daily op-ed by Lee Lambert + Kathleen deLaski, Published Nov. 9, 2021View Story