ATTACHMENT B: RFA NARRATIVE QUESTIONS
2016-17 Guided Pathways Initiative
Please provide a written response to all of the following questions in 12 pages or less. Answers should
be complete and concise.
1. Please refer to the “Introduction and Overview” section of this RFA. What components of Guided
Pathways implementation have you already accomplished, what are you best prepared to tackle,
and what presents the biggest challenge? Why is this the right time for your college to implement
Guided Pathways?
2. Student success is often measured by retention rates, SAI point accumulation, completion of
gatekeeper courses, completion rates, and other metrics. Give two specific examples of how clearly
defined metrics for monitoring student progress and success have been used for decision-making
within the campus community. In your response, include a description of the type of data that is
regularly presented to the executive team leadership, including the board of trustees.
3. Provide two examples of instances when student outcome data was disaggregated by selected
student characteristics, including race and socioeconomic status, and how and by whom the
disaggregated data were used. What initiatives to improve equity for students of color and low
income students were enacted as a result of the analysis?
4. How does your institution align program outcomes with requirements for success in post-program
education and employment? Please provide specific examples.
5. Please describe your current advising model including (a) where student advising takes place on
your campus, (b) faculty and/or staff involvement), (c) specific requirements for students such as a
new student orientation, and (d) time dedicated to advising on campus. In addition, what percent
of new students participate in your advising model(s) within their first year.
6. Provide an example of how your current advising practices are designed to help students explore,
select and stay on a) a career pathway to completion, or b) transfer into a specific bachelor’s degree
program at a subsequent institution; and/or the changes to your advising model that you anticipate
in preparation to make Guided Pathways work.
7. Describe your current placement practices for math and English, including the percentage of
students that are placed by different placement methods (e.g., placement test, GPA, high school
transcript, or other alternative placement methods). Please describe any changes to placement
policy or practice you have made in the past five years, and provide data to describe their
effectiveness.
8. Over the past 5 years, what has been the change in the percentage of students who earn collegelevel math and English credit within one year of enrollment? Please describe any reforms
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges | College Spark Washington
2016-17 Guided Pathways Initiative Narrative Questions
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implemented to this point, and any changes you anticipate are needed to facilitate successful
implementation of Guided Pathways.
9. Describe in depth the models that your college utilizes that reflect best practices in precollege
reform and include percentages of students who participate in each model. If you are not currently
utilizing any models, what are you plans for future reform?
10. Does your college currently offer an alternative math pathway to pre-calculus? If so, is it offered at
scale? Please describe.
11. Describe a time when your institution enacted a significant policy change that was mandatory or
prescriptive for students and provide any relevant data that demonstrates the impact of the change.
Also describe the strengths and challenges associated with the policy shift.
12. Provide an example of a time when your college reallocated resources based on data findings to
promote better student outcomes. What amounts of resources were allocated and where was it reallocated?
13. Provide an example of a large scale student success initiative that your institution pursued, based on
evidence. Describe the process of change that occurred, how you managed the challenges that
came with it, and how you achieved scale.
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges | College Spark Washington
2016-17 Guided Pathways Initiative Narrative Questions
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