[GuidedPathways] Pathways to Progress--April/May Newsletter

Tue May 13 09:39:04 PDT 2025

Pathways to Progress
Spring Newsletter, April/May 2025

A Message from Monica: Centering Learning, Centering Change
I'm writing from the 2025 Assessment, Teaching, and Learning (ATL) Conference, where this year's theme, "Centering Students, Centering Learning," is being brought to life in powerful ways. Guava Jordan, Policy Associate for Faculty Development and Ensured Learning and the primary organizer of the conference, has created space for students not just to be present-but to lead. Students are facilitating workshops, speaking on panels, and sharing bold ideas for change. This is what it looks like to truly center student voices.
But this year's ATL theme invites us to go even deeper-not just to center students, but to center learning. What are we learning from students, about students, and about how we serve them? How do we assess that learning, and-most importantly-how does it change us? Centering voice is not enough on its own. Real change happens when we reflect on what we hear, confront difficult truths, and commit to changing our behaviors, policies, and practices. As institutions and as a system, sometimes we must lead with changed behaviors, even as we continue to learn and grow.
This is the heart of Guided Pathways: placing students at the center, applying what we know works, learning along the way, and making ongoing improvements. While every campus role contributes to student success, faculty play a uniquely critical role in ensuring learning happens at the course, program, and pathway level.
It has been energizing to see faculty come together at ATL to share their Guided Pathways work-integrating advising into instruction, experimenting with AI, and rethinking assessment strategies. This is where transformation lives: in the daily work of educators committed to improving outcomes for all students.
Huge thanks to Guava and the entire ATL planning team for organizing such a thoughtful and inspiring event. To stay connected to this work, visit the Faculty Development and Ensured Learning website<https://www.sbctc.edu/colleges-staff/programs-services/student-success-center/faculty-development-ensured-learning/> and keep watch for the spring newsletter with other highlights.

Key Updates
Guided Pathways Funding Update
To increase flexibility for colleges, the Legislature's final budget proposal removes several spending provisos while retaining the associated funding in our base appropriations-including funding for Guided Pathways. Under this proposal, the funding source shifts from the Workforce Education and Innovation Account to the general state appropriation.
This change is a positive development. It signals long-term stability by embedding Guided Pathways support directly into our core budget. However, this also means our commitment to transparency and alignment with the original intent of the funding-system transformation focused on equity and student success-is more important than ever.
Looking ahead, I'll be engaging with presidents and chancellors to develop a shared approach for tracking and reporting spending that maintains accountability while supporting innovation.
As a reminder, WACTC has played a central role in determining how Guided Pathways dollars are distributed. The current allocation formula-based on WACTC's recommendation-splits funding 50% by student FTE with Running Start and 50% by student headcount without Running Start, using three-year averages.
Next steps include the governor's final budget approval, WACTC review and recommendation, and final action by the State Board.
What does this mean for your college? We don't expect any reduction in Guided Pathways funding in the next biennium. More details will follow as the process continues.

Student Success/Student Advising Platform RFP

In Fall 2023, presidents and chancellors across Washington voted to pursue a system-wide Request for Proposals (RFP) for student success software, supported by SBCTC and designed to allow for two-way integration with PeopleSoft. Over the past year, a systemwide workgroup defined the purpose and functional requirements for the RFP.

During fall quarter, a review team of system representatives (listed below) evaluated 11 submitted proposals. In January, the top four vendors-ConexEd, EAB, Frequency Foundry, and HighPoint-were invited to present product demonstrations, highlight accessibility features, and engage in Q&A sessions with stakeholders. A full process overview and timeline is available here<https://infograph.venngage.com/pl/YBHZ6XQ6as8>.

ConexEd has been identified as the Apparent Successful Vendor based on evaluation scores. While this does not guarantee a final contract award, it indicates that ConexEd currently holds the most competitive position in the process. The platform has also undergone internal and external functional testing, including accessibility evaluations to identify areas for improvement.

Next steps include negotiations focusing on key considerations such as:

  *   Cost - Pricing structure and long-term affordability
  *   Capacity - ConexEd's ability to support multiple college implementations
  *   Integration - Ensuring seamless two-way integration with PeopleSoft

Further updates will be shared as they become available.

Early Adopter Advising Technology Implementation Project - Application Due May 15th

The Early Adopter Advising Technology Implementation Project is now open and closes Friday, May 15th.  This opportunity supports colleges in preparing for the launch of a new student success and advising platform. While we recognize that there are colleges who are on the fence about whether to apply or not because of the timing of the RFP, please consider applying.

For full details, please see the Early-Adopter Advising Technology Implementation Project Resources below:

  *   Informational Webinar Recording<https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/wdjmTf6AP0ek4Yvo0WtrWTAvrjXi9NZx2enyjWBDNwzPl1x_rs_K6iSUL00RTijd.ZeBqxSNXMNatfAnB>
  *   Application PowerPoint Slides<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1buRgPRnws9yXuqV0y5OL5J_UKRpM8UJ6/view?usp=sharing>
  *   RFP Process Overview Infographic<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MdNCdBwBno4PAu_--IyQyBmoMRB6I7RS/view?usp=sharing>
  *   Grant Guidelines Document<https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J5O2v9H1UUsOmcP7voA6InC2HffehU7u/view?usp=sharing>
  *   Project Application<https://drive.google.com/file/d/17G_a5KF6LcCphM-0bhYKnXJ95OX3u1td/view?usp=sharing>
  *   FAQ<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AErlE-I7pCWr5mRfFGFYuNzjUhZwCyn32xf_eFRa6bw/edit?usp=sharing>

Project Contact Information:

  *   Amunoo Tembo, Policy Associate| E: atembo at sbctc.edu|<mailto:atembo at sbctc.edu|> P: 360-704-1020|
  *   Moriah Reid- Nnanabu, Administrative Assistant| E: mreid-nnanabu at sbctc.edu|<mailto:mreid-nnanabu at sbctc.edu|> 360-704-1039

Please direct any concerns or complaints to Monica Wilson, Student Success Center Director, at mwilson at sbctc.edu<mailto:mwilson at sbctc.edu>.

Peer and Professional Development

Check the 2024-2025 Peer and Professional Learning Calendar<https://www.sbctc.edu/colleges-staff/programs-services/student-success-center/peer-professional-learning> often for updates.  This spring the Student Success Team will be offering a number of online options as we engage is 2025-2026 professional development planning.  Is there something specific you'd like us to consider?  Let us know!

Stay Informed!

Keep up with all the great work in the Student Success Center!  Each policy associate authors regular newsletters, check out what we have going on in each area!

  *   Faculty Development and Ensured Learning<https://infograph.venngage.com/pl/3TXTo51Yv2Y>
  *   Student Success and Pathway Navigation<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tIVKBmEQkRs3cRSDNpKt9-xeO_B8BVZ47tGW04Je-Tw/edit?tab=t.0>
  *   Math Pathways and Placement<https://www.wamathpathways.org/>
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