Background

Seattle Pathways began in late 2017 as a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) planning initiative to guide all of Seattle Colleges’ enrollment efforts. At that time, it was clear that to remain relevant, responsive, and fiscally viable, Seattle Colleges needed to meet the current and urgent needs of students, businesses, and the community.

The scope of the initiative extended from intake to completion. At the onset, it was determined that the SEM planning and approach needed to be:

• Mission-driven and aligned with Seattle Colleges’ strategic plan
• Data informed with measurable goals and outcomes
• Collaborative, cross-functional, and reflective of best practices
• Integrated into financial planning and budget allocating process
• Understood and embraced by faculty, staff, and the executive leaders across the district
• Technology-supported
• Inclusive and equitable
• Deliberate, systematic, and sensitive to current environment
• Practical and adaptable

Late 2017

In September 2017, a districtwide SEM Steering Committee and subsequent subcommittees were formed. Leaders were chosen and charges were given to each subcommittees. The subcommittees were:

• Recruitment and Outreach
• Admissions
• Prerequisites
• Placement Methods and Process
• New Student Onboarding (Orientation and Entry—Advising)
• Evaluation and Data
• College Climate and Student Experience
• Instructional Program Mix

2018

In late 2018, 37 recommendations were screened.

• Twelve of the recommendations were already being implemented:
  1. Create a single authoritative database for academic information
  2. Create an academic programs web template
  3. Build one-stop shopping type webpages with complete information
  4. Send acceptance letter through the CRM
  5. Align the prerequisites for Seattle Colleges’ academic programs
  6. Placement—English
  7. Placement—Math
  8. Placement—ESL
  9. Data Evaluation Model—quarterly and yearly reports
  10. Disaggregate data of student groups
  11. Academic Program Mix—Apprenticeships FTEs
  12. Academic Program Mix—Workforce
• Two of the recommendations were referred Starfish Implementation team:
  1. HiTech/HiTouch Service
  2. Coordinated communication campaign throughout onboarding

Of the remaining 23, 11 were selected for consideration/evaluation by the SEM Evaluation Subcommittee. From the 11, six were provided to the chancellor and president for approval.

1. Consistent financial aid process
2. Align new student orientation
3. First-year experience program
4. Revamp phone practices
5. Measure admission funnel outcomes
6. Align email aliases

In October 2018, the SEM planning efforts, committees, and remaining recommendations were incorporated into the Seattle Pathways efforts, and the Seattle Pathways committee was formed (to replace the SEM Steering Committee).