1. “Meta-What? And Why?”
While you are waiting, please download two documents at the ASCCC Website (insert link or location) A Quick Guide to Metamajors and Links at a Variety of Colleges Guidelines or Principles for Developing Metamajors
Presenters:
Randy Beach, Guided Pathways Task Force, Southwestern College
Janet Fulks, ASCCC Guided Pathways Lead, Bakersfield College
Carrie

2. “Meta-What? And Why?"
Before embarking on the development of metamajors, you should have a clear understanding of why you are developing meta-majors.
Why are meta-majors an integral element of guided pathways - and what will metamajors mean for your college?
What do you expect to gain from the development of metamajors?
How do you ensure that your meta-majors achieve their intended purpose?
Join us for an overview of the "why" of meta-majors and design principles to guide your work.
Carrie

3. Overview
Last week we talked about program mapping and the relationship with meta-major development – quick review
What are metamajors?
Why metamajors?
How do you begin with metamajors? (see exploration tool)
Principles that help metamajors’ development and implementation (See guidelines to develop
Carrie

4. Mapping and Metamajors
The development of one informs the other…and vice versa
Map first, build metamajors around shared coursework
Determining metamajors first, makes it easier to identify first year experience in metamajors
First step: establish the context of innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking
Emphasize revision, data-collecting
Engage broadly in mapping and metamajors
Create a plan
Establish a timeline for revision of both

5. What is a Program Map? What is a Metamajor?
An academic program map is a term-by-term sequence of courses required to complete the degree/certificate in
two years..
What is a Metamajor?
A metamajor is an organizational structure that can:
Simplify program options for students
Educate students about the “end”
Reconstruct discussions across disciplines
Guide exploration
Provide data and information to message students

6. What a metamajor is/can be
What a metamajor is NOT
A cluster of programs based on principles
A grouping that allows students to explore within similar areas
Programs with similar math requirements
Areas with similar employment areas
Areas of study based on similar motivations
A tool to help students meet their goals sooner and more directly
A collection of departments based on organizational structure
An academic organization chart
A specific set of programs that every college must share
A magic tool that makes you a Guided Pathways College

7. Begin by looking at examples
There are many iterations but also some major similarities
The metamajors should represent the college’s mission and enable the college to meet its vision of work
Metamajors are to serve student choice
Simple layers of information guide students to specific program or employment goals
They all seem to have logos
The logos can be a problem
Ultimately they must connect to programs
Share the LOGO trap

8. Worksheet to help colleges

9. Bakersfield COllege

10. Cabrillo College

11. City Colleges of Chicago

12. City Colleges of Chicago

13. Kansas Career Clusters – Several states have dictated these from the top down – Florida, Texas, Kansas

14. Prince George’s Community College Maryland

15. Prince George’s Community College Maryland

16. Prince George’s Community College Maryland

17. Prince George’s Community College Maryland

18. Skyline College
Skyline

19. Skyline College
Skyline

20. Skyline College
Skyline

21. Sierra

22. Guidelines

23. Worksheet: Considerations for Metamajors
Beginning with the end in mind
Metamajors and clarity
Metamajors and collaboration
Metamajors and integration
Metamajors and manageability
Messaging

24. District Considerations
Should you have common language across the district regarding guided pathways?
What will you call your “meta-majors”?
Will you share a common GP language?
Are there district-level barriers that need to be addressed?
How much do students move between your colleges – and why?
If students truly need to move between your colleges to achieve their goals, have you ensured that the process is easy?

25. Questions to Ask: Don’t rush into this metamajor thing
Is the “sorting exercise really helpful?
Know your faculty. Is this a hill to die on?

26. Opportunities for Faculty Dialog
Lean into skepticism, don’t avoid it
Encourage your committee to be flexible and open
Have a data plan for collecting validating data for future iterations
Plan to iterate, set review dates
Transparency! Transparency! Transparency!
Consider metamajors as a clarifying tool
Emphasize metamajors as communication tools
Plan to talk with high schools and transfer institutions

27. Questions and Comments

28. Additional ASCCC Resources
ASCCC GP Canvas -
ASCCC Guided Pathways RESOURCES
Michelle

29. Next Webinars:
Starting the New Year Right: Listening to Students on Opening Day and Beyond
Student voices and experiences are a powerful asset when making your case for guided pathways and are crucial data when designing your college's guided pathways framework. But what are effective ways to engage students in guided pathways conversations and design? In this session, presenters will offer ideas for working with students and collecting data to inform your guided pathways efforts. November 28, :30-1:30
Developing (or Re-thinking) your Guided Pathways Leadership Structure How do you get a leadership team started for Guided Pathways? What if you have a team but things are just not moving like you thought they would? Join as we look at several different strategies for beginning and sustaining leadership in your Guided Pathways efforts. November 14, :30-1:30
Guided Pathways Open Forum: Acknowledging Successes and Showing Gratitude
This will be an interactive session as we go into Thanksgiving and prepare for finals. Please come prepared to share what has been going well at your college with regards to Guided Pathways. At the end of this session we will have a collection of the things that have worked so far for various colleges. November 21, :30-1:30
Carrie