CAMPUS
NEWS
PLAN FOCUSES ON CAREERS, DIPLOMAS
BY ASHLEY RAMYNKE / el Don
GUIDED PATHWAYS:
PART 3 IN A SERIES
“Hopefully,
with Guided
Pathways,
we’re going to
be able to
communicate
specifically
so that you
can be
focused ”
Eloy Ortiz Oakley
California
Community
Colleges
Chancellor
Not all students enter college with a
definitive major and career trajectory.
With the implementation of Guided
Pathways in fall 2019, first-year students
are introduced to a series of two-year
education plans that put them on a
path to graduation.
This framework — intended to help
students complete courses towards
their areas of interests, potential
careers, and majors — requires
students to choose one of seven
pathways: Business and Paralegal; Child
Development, Teaching and Library
Science; Computers, Math and Science;
Automotive, Manufacturing and
Engineering Technology; Design, Media,
Art and Performance; Humanities, Social
Sciences and Languages; and Public
Health and Safety Services.
Over the past year, there were
several ongoing discussions at Santa
Ana College about the potential
addition of an undecided pathway,
but officials voted against it because
some SAC administrators said that it
contradicts with the spirit of Guided
Pathways, according to Dr. Fernando
Ortiz, SAC’s Dean of Academic Affairs.
“One of the goals of Guided
Pathways is to capture students and
be able to provide the services and
advisement within their particular
pathway,” said Ortiz. “If we have
students that are undecided, they
will essentially fall through the cracks
because they won’t have that support
that we’re going to be providing for
students that are in a pathway.”
The emphasis is on students
completing their goals efficiently, so
changing a path risks more time in
community college. This issue further
complicates when students want to
change their major to one that is not on
the same pathway.
For example, a student changing their
major from anthropology to sociology
will not have a lot of additional courses
because these majors are both on
the Humanities, Social Sciences and
Languages Pathway and entail similar
required courses.
However, if a student wanted to
change their plan from anthropology
to accounting, it would delay the
two-year time frame because it
would shift from the Humanities
and Social Sciences Pathway to the
Business and Paralegal Pathway.
Although Guided Pathways focuses
on first-year students, they do have
choices when selecting a plan.
Continuing students entering onto a
path clarifies courses necessary to
achieve their goals, but in a more
limited capacity because they have
already taken classes in other areas.
“Hopefully, with Guided Pathways,
we’re going to be able to communicate
specifically the two, three, four or
five classes that you need to take
so that you can be focused and
make sure that you take those and
only those courses,” Ortiz said.
The complexities associated with
Guided Pathways brings a new set of
challenges and obstacles this fall.
“By creating clear program
maps for students, they are
more likely to obtain a college
credential that will substantially
increase their earnings potential,”
California Community Colleges
Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley said.
EDUCATION: SALARIES RISE WITH LEVEL OF DEGREE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
that’s six to eight classes
and enter a profession
that pays very well,” SAC
Counselor Daniel Peraza
said.
Some professions don’t
look for a degree. Jobs
as plumbers, automotive
engineers or computer
programmers look for
the skills over a degree.
There are boot camps for
computer programmers
and certificate
programs for all sorts of
engineering.
SAC offers certificate
programs from Account-
ing to Fire Technology
and Computer
4
Information Systems.
Certificate options
are available around the
state, and they do not
require the two years of
general education.
“I am extremely happy
with my decision to get
my certificates because it
gives me a big advantage
over others in my industry
who are trying to learn
on the job,” said Jose
Rubalcava who has a
certificate in Commercial
Refrigeration.
However, other
occupations won’t bother
to look at applicants
without higher education.
“I was a program
director for a non-profit
el Don Santa Ana College · June 2019
agency that serviced
adults with disabilities.
When we were hiring
people if they didn’t
have their bachelor’s we
would not look at them”
Santa Ana resident with
a bachelor’s in Ministry,
Patty Granger said.
The average salary for
a California resident with
a High School diploma
gets paid $28,700.
Also, 65% of those with
the qualifications are
employed. Santa Ana
has the second highest
percentage in California
of residents without a di-
ploma at 44%. It is also the
fifth lowest percentage of
bachelor degree holders.
GRAD FACTS
College education
equals employment.
It may not be the ideal
career, but there needs
to be a start with an end
goal in mind.
“If it means that
Percent of bachelor’s
you end up starting at
graduates who are
the bottom and climb
employed in California
your way to the top, if
you don’t start finding
those transferable skills
experience, it’s harder to
get there. If a degree is
Average annual salary
part of that growth, great!” of a bachelor graduate
said Lamb.
“Look for opportunities
for growth that are related
to your ultimate growth
Percent of Santa Ana
and just know that it is
residents who don’t have
going to take some time
a high school diploma
to get there.”
81%
$57K
44%