This edition of News from the Pathways to College Network presents a bird's-eye view of the Pathways to College Network and our current initiatives.

The Pathways Network is an alliance of 40 national education, policy, and research organizations, professional associations, and education funders working collaboratively to increase college access and success for underserved students. Central to our work is promoting research-based recommendations for improving policies, practices, and programs aimed at preparing students for postsecondary success. Six research-based principles, articulated in our 2004 report, A Shared Agenda, underlie all our efforts:

1. Expect that all underserved students are capable of being prepared to enroll and succeed in college.
2. Provide a range of high-quality college-preparatory tools for underserved students and their families.
3. Embrace social, cultural, and learning-style differences in developing learning environments and activities for underserved students.
4. Involve leaders at all levels in establishing policies, programs, and practices that facilitate student transitions toward postsecondary attainment.
5. Maintain sufficient financial and human resources to enable underserved students to prepare for, enroll, and succeed in college.
6. Assess policy, program, practice, and institutional effectiveness regularly.

Pathways' current activities focus on improving policy and practice on local, state, and national levels in four areas -- Academic Preparation and Support, Access, Financial Aid, and College Success. As the organizational chart below illustrates, the efforts of the steering committees that lead the work in each area are closely intertwined. The Research and Policy steering committees cut across and support all areas.

Pathways to College Network organization chart

Providing Direction : Leadership for Focus Areas
Lead partners are responsible for managing the activities in each area, with oversight and advice provided by the steering committee for that area.

• Academic Preparation and Support – Pacific Resources for Education and Learning
• Access – The College Board; National Association of Student Financial Aid Administators; Southern Regional Education Board
• Financial Aid – Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
• College Success – Association of American Colleges and Universities
• Research – ACT, Inc.; The College Board; Social Science Research Council
• Policy – [to be determined]
• Network Managing Partner – The Education Resources Institute

If you are interested in connecting with the work of any of these areas, contact Karen Cheng, Pathways Project Manager.

What We're Doing: Current Activities
The first half of 2005 has been busy and productive. Highlights of our activites include the following:

• Academic Preparation and Support -- We successfully piloted the College Readiness for All toolbox in 6 schools, districts, and states. We are also developing a training of trainers model that will allow us to offer the Toolbox to many more districts and states.
• Access -- We developed a College Access Marketing website to improve college access campaigns that encourage students to go to college. Our next step is to pilot the site's processes and models with 6 different sites.
• Financial Aid -- We completed a research paper examining models for early financial aid commitment programs and giving policy recommendations for future programs.
• College Success -- We developed a framework and plan for a College Success toolbox to help campus leaders improve the college retention and success of underserved students.
• Research -- We laid the groundwork for 1-2 research projects in each focus area that will improve our understanding of effective strategies for overcoming persistent barriers to college success.
• Policy -- We began planning to create a Policy focus area.

Upcoming... Stay tuned!

• The College Access Marketing website launches on July 1, 2005.
• The Financial Aid focus area will release its report on early commitment programs in August 2005.
• We are revising the College Readiness for All toolbox for August 2005. Version 2 will feature new Awareness and Policy components, as well as a streamlined interface and updated tools.

The Education Resources Institute (TERI), managing partner of the Pathways to College Network, has launched a new website for students and families. Visit TERI's College Access website for:

• College Planning Assistance – Get information and publications on planning and paying for college.
• Online Advising – Find tips and guidance about applying to college and identifying sources of financial aid.
• College Access Advocacy– Learn how you can assist low-income, first-generation students to go to college.

The Pathways to College Network
http://www.pathwaystocollege.net