ERIC Number: ED601558
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 156
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-0855-6537-0
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Examining the Effectiveness of the American Association of Community Colleges' Pathways Project in the Florida College System
Pakowski, Lawrence P., III
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, The Florida State University
This study investigated the effectiveness of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Pathways Project in the Florida College System. The project, devised as a means of turning a new corner in community college success, sought to improve lackluster persistence, retention, completion, and success rates in America's community colleges. The AACC Pathways Project has provided an evidence- and research-based roadmap that can adapted to a variety of institutional settings and scaled up to impact all students. The theoretical framework for this study was two-fold. First, behavioral economics and the Paradox of Choice helped to explain the decisions students make (or sometimes fail to make) and helped to define "maps" for every program of study, which aimed to get students on a path, keep them on a path, and ensure that they are learning. Second, learning theory informed our understanding of how motivation and goal-setting further clarified the supports and guardrails in these "maps" by creating and fostering student self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-determination. This study compared one participating institution with two non-participating peer institutions in the Florida College System. A robust difference-in-differences analysis was employed to both compare treatment vs. control institutions as well as pre- and post-treatment periods in the AACC Pathways Project. The outcomes of interest represented the same "Key Performance Indicators" in the AACC Pathways Project: the number of college-level credits completed in the first term and first year, gateway college-level mathematics and English completion in year one, fall-to-spring persistence, and overall college-level course completion rates in the first year. To better explore the impacts of the project in the local context, a secondary analysis investigated differential rates of change based on race/ethnicity, gender, and enrollment status (full-time or part-time)--all key demographics of interest to community colleges given their greater enrollments of underrepresented, underserved, and part-time students when compared to universities. Ultimately, this study sought to answer if guided pathways, as implemented via the AACC Pathways Project, improved student outcomes as measured by key performance indicators relating to persistence, college-level credits earned, and college-level course completion. The study was also charged with answering if the impact of the AACC Pathways Project differed for any subgroups of students at the treatment institution. The results were mixed--in some instances there were no differential changes, while in others there were higher or lower odds of measured outcomes. However, results for racial/ethnic minority groups, males, and part-time students in the treatment institution showed significant promise for the guided pathways movement. Indeed, early studies on the AACC Pathways Project have found positive changes in these outcomes. Thus, the most meaningful implication of this study is that this is provides a basis of knowledge of what is happening at one institution. Far more research and time is needed to have a better sense of the broader impacts of the guided pathways movement. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Program Effectiveness, Community Colleges, Two Year College Students, Student Motivation, Self Efficacy, Self Determination, Academic Persistence, College Credits, Minority Group Students, Males, Part Time Students, College English, College Mathematics, Guidance Objectives
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A