resources
For micro-pathways to work, they must be employer-initiated and validated. In essence, employers must be actively involved in all stages of the design and delivery of micro-pathways.
This employer engagement guidebook has been developed for the inaugural and future cohorts of the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine (CCGE or the Engine, for short). The first of its kind, the Engine supports a national cohort of community colleges and systems, in partnership with employers and regional stakeholders, to create new earn-and-learn pathways to economic mobility—over the course of four years, the Engine will test and scale micro-pathways with learners and employers.
Prior to, or at the start of, moving forward with the design of micro-pathways, we recommend that institutions explore their current employer relationships. The Lab has devised an Employer Engagement Matrix plotting tool to facilitate this process. Upon reflecting on the current state of employer relationships, your institution may identify both gaps in the breadth of employer relationships and opportunities for deepening existing relationships. The remainder of this guidebook lays out a series of steps to bring more employers to the table, as well as how to identify which relationships are candidates for deepening and how to go about it.
The Community College Growth Engine is a catalytic investment in community colleges to position them as drivers between innovation and employment.
The first of its kind, the Engine supports a national cohort of community colleges and systems, in partnership with employers and regional stakeholders, to create new earn-and-learn pathways to economic mobility—over the course of four years, the Engine will test and scale micro-pathways with learners and employers.
Related News + Events
-
View StorySeattle Colleges Show How Deep Employer Engagement Can Yield Unprecedented Returns for Community College Students
Anna Baldwin, Director of Workforce Projects for Seattle Colleges, had no idea that the colleges’ engagement with Seattle Children’s Hospital would yield $200,000 in scholarships… -
View StoryIvy Tech Uses the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine Fund as a Vehicle to Drive a One-Learner Ecosystem to Merge Credit + Noncredit
Ivy Tech Community College’s (ITCC) vision of one-learner ecosystem is starting to crystallize and become reality through the Lab’s Community College Growth Engine Fund—CCGEF or… -
View StoryA Silver Lining: State Funding Leveraged to Support Student Advising Innovation for Prince George’s Community College Micro-pathways
Prince George’s Community College has been instituting a holistic advising model to guide and support learners in its credit-bearing programs. For learners in Continuing Education… -
View StoryDesigning Micro-pathways with and for Learners
Q&A with Dr. Tara Zirkel, Senior Education Designer with the Community College Growth Engine Fund The Community College Growth Engine Fund is a design accelerator… -
View StoryEmployer Insights about Micro-Pathways
In April 2021, the Community College Growth Engine Fund (CCGEF), a national initiative to build 18+ employer-validated micro-pathways, hosted learner feedback sessions. Micro-pathways are defined… -
View StoryFive Learner Insights about Designing Micro-Pathways
In April 2021, the Community College Growth Engine Fund (CCGEF), a national initiative to build 18+ employer-validated micro-pathways, hosted a series of learner feedback sessions… -
View StoryFour Insights from Employers: How Learning Providers Can Design Industry-aligned Pathways
A completed T-Profile by an employer partner In January 2021, the Community College Growth Engine Fund (CCGEF), a national initiative to build 18 employer-validated…
To get in touch, contact our team at ccgef@eddesignlab.org
Follow our work with the Community College Growth Engine on Twitter @eddesignlab #micropathways