We often assume students experience a linear pathway through the college experience, with straightforward progression from enrollment to graduation. But this assumption oversimplifies the complexities inherent in each student’s educational journey, overlooking the richness and diversity that defines their university experience.
Helping students chart their course
In reality, students are required to navigate intricacies unique to both their specific situations and the “hidden curriculum” of college. When we as a university fail to provide proactive supports and interventions, these intricacies are at risk of becoming offramps for even the most prepared student.
At IU, we seek to provide students with guided pathways to provide a personalized approach as compared to the assumed linear model of student progression. Student guided pathways play a pivotal role in fostering student success by providing a clear, structured roadmap for a student’s journey. These pathways serve as comprehensive guides, offering students a well-defined route for their academic journey, incorporating the experiences, resources, and supports they’ll need along the way. At the same time, they are flexible enough to acknowledge that students are complex people with unique journeys.
Recognizing that students' educational journeys vary widely, guided pathways provide a structured yet flexible framework that accommodates diverse backgrounds, goals, and needs. They allow for individualized exploration and tailored support from staff & faculty, enabling students to design a path unique to their experience.