Colorado Community College System Receives Technology Pioneer Award
DENVER, CO – The Colorado Community College System (CCCS) was awarded the Technology Pioneer Award earlier this month by EAB, a Washington, DC-based education best practices think tank, for improving student success through the use of innovative technologies that enhance academic planning for its students.
Three CCCS colleges—Arapahoe Community College, Pikes Peak Community College, and Pueblo Community College—piloted the implementation of the platform, called Navigate, that improves students’ academic journey from application to graduation by offering personalized onboarding organized to ensure they meet critical deadlines; enabling them to explore majors and careers that match their interests; and helping them stay on track with smart course selection, scheduling, and registration support. The app also connects students with staff, faculty, and advisors for individualized support toward achieving their goals.
“This implementation has resulted in examining our processes of student onboarding and advising and helped our focus on guided pathways and other best practices around academic planning,” said CCCS Chief Information Officer Julie Ouska.
The accomplishments of the pilot program have laid groundwork for the remaining ten CCCS colleges to pursue. Ahead of the Fall 2019 semester, students will be able to take advantage of this helpful tool as they map out their academic journey at any CCCS college.
When announcing the award, EAB Executive Director Rich Staley noted that CCCS exemplifies “what colleges can achieve with a campus-wide approach to student success, strong leadership, and an unrelenting commitment to helping more students reach their potential.”
Ouska and CCCS Director of Enrollment Services Michael Schulman accepted the Technology Pioneer Award at EAB’s conference in Washington, DC.
About Colorado Community College System
The Colorado Community College System is the state’s largest provider of higher education and career training, serving over 137,000 students annually at 13 colleges and 40 locations across the state. With our open access mission, we play a vital role in educating both the emerging and existing workforces, as well as meeting the needs of Colorado’s businesses and communities. The System Office provides leadership, advocacy, and support to member colleges under the direction of the State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education (SBCCOE).