The Shadow
Clifton Forge, VA (February 14, 2025) — Mountain Gateway Community College has been selected to participate in Phase 2 of the Rural Guided Pathways Project. Colleges that are part of Rural Pathways work with each other — and with community partners in their regions — to
implement evidence-based, institution-wide reforms grounded in the guided pathways framework. The project’s rural focus and in-depth participation of community partners set it apart from other guided pathways efforts.
“Mountain Gateway is deeply honored to be selected for this national project. This opportunity builds upon the significant work we’ve already accomplished to enhance support for our students and community,” said Dr. John Rainone, college president. “Our college is uniquely
equipped to tackle critical economic challenges, including workforce shortages. This initiative marks an important step in strengthening student success and positioning Mountain Gateway for continued growth in the years to come.”
Phase 2 of Rural Pathways builds on the incredible progress colleges made during Phase 1 of the project. Phase 1 included 16 colleges and ran from 2022 through 2024. Phase 2 includes 28 colleges, many of which are continuing the work they started in Phase 1, and will run from 2025
through 2027.
Participating colleges commit to:
● Designing and implementing a better student experience at their colleges.
● Ensuring that more students earn credentials and move on to living-wage jobs or transfer to a four-year institution with junior status.
● Collaborating with key stakeholders to increase economic opportunity in their region and be partners in the implementation of a cross-sector approach to guided pathways.
● Implementing evidence-based reforms that will address inequity and lead to improved educational and workforce outcomes.
Rural Pathways provides a deliberate venue for rural college practitioners to collaborate while they work to improve student outcomes. Historically, rural community college leaders have not had many opportunities to problem-solve around the student success and completion issues that are particular to their culture, context, and capacity. They often struggle to apply strategies — even those that work well at urban and suburban institutions — in their rural context.
Rural Pathways gives rural colleges opportunities to work through challenging issues and collaborate with peer institutions, all in the context of a learning community that provides a broad range of support.
The role of community partners also sets Rural Pathways apart. Throughout the three-year project, regional partners are an integral part of each college’s team and deeply embedded in pathways implementation. The value of involving external stakeholders in pathways work — and
giving them specific roles and responsibilities — is amplified in rural settings, where students’ education, residents’ economic mobility, and the regional economy are so closely intertwined.
“We are excited to have Mountain Gateway Community College participate in Rural Pathways,” says Gretchen Schmidt, senior fellow, National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII). “Rural institutions have not had many opportunities to problem-solve around the student success and completion issues that are particular to their culture, context, and capacity. By joining Rural Pathways, Mountain Gateway Community College is demonstrating its commitment to making lasting changes that will improve student outcomes.”
NCII provides the project leadership for Rural Pathways. A team of implementation coaches, leadership coaches, and subject matter experts join NCII in working with participating colleges and developing the project’s curriculum. NCII also builds on longstanding partnerships with the
Community College Research Center and the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program to support participating colleges.
For more information about Rural Pathways, visit ruralguidedpathways.org.
