RISE Project Overview 

In an effort to empower faculty to make equitable, sustainable change with in their discipline by funding projects that utilize the Guided Pathways framework The Guided Pathways to Success (GPS) Steering Committee has created RISE: Re-Imagining the Student Experience. This entails granting every department or discipline funding for up to 15 hours of non-instructional pay to propose and implement a small, one semester, project that utilizes the Guided Pathways framework to improve their program. Under the Guided Pathways framework, the Scale of Adoption Assessment (SOAA) highlights essential practices that institutions measure when assessing implementation to scale. This is not money you need to apply for! Your department just needs to collectively agree on a project that will benefit students in your program and who will carry out the work. Any faculty member, both full time and part time can participate. Departments are eligible to complete one RISE project per academic year.  

How to RISE 

1. Work with your department/discipline to choose a project that will directly benefit the students’ experience and/or increase success in your program by helping to clarify the pathway, identify milestones, navigate an existing roadblock, and/or address program level outcomes.
   
   •  Projects should be short term, requiring no more than 15 hours of work.
   •  Projects must have one or more specific outcomes linked to student success within the department, and the outcome(s) must be measurable to determine effectiveness
   •  Projects must be supported and approved by the department
   •  Projects must address issues related to student equity.
   •  Projects should utilize the Guided Pathways framework by addressing at least one of the essential practices on the SOAA
   •  This list of example projects may provide some inspiration.
   •  If there are multiple projects of interest, the department should consider applying for a Mini Grant to support additional projects, or larger scale projects.
2. Work with your department/discipline to select faculty member(s) who will complete the project.
   • Both full time and part time can participate.
   • More than one faculty member can collaborate and share the 15 hours of compensation.
3. Submit the RISE Proposal form.
4. Submit a RISE Project Final Report.

RISE Project Outcomes 

• Increase number and disciplines of faculty involved in the work of Guided Pathways for Success. 
• Improve communication and collaboration between faculty and staff across disciplines including; instruction faculty, counseling faculty, library faculty, and other student service programs.
• Utilize Guided Pathways funding to create long term program improvement based on essential practices on the SOAA. 
• Leverage faculty expertise to close equity gaps and improve student success by providing support and autonomy for faculty to identify and address unique needs of their program area.

Project Criteria:  

• Projects should be short-term, requiring 15 hours of work. 
• Projects must have one or more specific outcomes linked to student success within the program/department and the outcome(s) must be measurable to determine student engagement and/or effectiveness.
• Project must be supported and approved by the Department (provide department minutes)
• Projects must address issues related to student equity.
• Project must be collaborative. It is recommended that faculty consult counselor liaison, library liaison, student services, learning assistance, continuing education, and/or classified staff as it pertains to their project.

Sample Projects 

Project samples are provided below. Faculty are encouraged to develop any project that meets the criteria and best serves the department. 

• Career Pathways Guide. Develop a listing of careers for students with a degree, certificate, or concentration the program. Include salary, minimum qualifications and other relevant information for careers. (Update website with employment information and further educational opportunities 1:c)
• Create a guide about possible careers related to that field, including for students who need to change their goal (3:d)
• Program Handbook. Create a handbook or guide for navigating the major/degree. Include the suggested sequence of courses and appropriate milestones or opportunities that students should be aware of. (Create Program Maps with milestones 1:d)
• Work with the research office to develop a survey or focus group to identify and better understand student needs and their journey through your program. Design a research strategy to address one of the issues identified.
• Evaluate and plan for student demand for classes in your program both on a term basis and times during each day to help students finish more quickly (3:e)
• Create a workshop, non-credit class, teaching module, or video for students that address student needs within your program. Be sure to consult student services and continuing education to be informed of what resources already exist. (Special supports are created to help students succeed in gateway English, math, and major classes 2:b, 2:c, 2:d)
• Create an early alert plan for department (3:c)
• Analyze how well program learning outcomes are aligned with success in related careers or transfer (4:a)
• Analyze how well Course learning outcomes assess mastery learning and use the data to make a plan to improve it I.e. via professional development 4:d&4:e 
• Create shared resources to facilitate student’s opportunities to apply and deepen knowledge and skills through projects, internships, co-ops clinical placements, group projects outside of class, service learning, study abroad and other experiential learning activities that program faculty intentionally embed into coursework (Create shared resources to promote increased engagement in class including active and applied learning, critical thinking, problem solving and communication 4:b)