Community College of Philadelphia Receives $50,000 Grant to Design ‘Micro-pathways’ in Health Care, STEAM Fields

Originally Published 02/02/22
Barry Johnson 
Email: btjohnson@ccp.edu  
Cell: 267-666-7881

The College is one of four new partner institutions joining the Education Design Lab’s Community College Growth Engine Fund 

PHILADELPHIA – Community College of Philadelphia today announced that it will design micro-pathways in partnership with the Education Design Lab (The Lab), a national nonprofit that designs, implements, and scales new learning models for higher education and the future of work.  

Co-designed with learners and employers, micro-pathways are defined as two or more stackable credentials, including a 21st century skill micro-credential, that are flexibly delivered to be achieved within less than a year and result in a job at or above the local median wage. The College was awarded a $50,000 and will work alongside local employers to launch micro-pathways in the following sectors: health care; STEAM life sciences and technology; and transportation and logistics. 

“Community College of Philadelphia is thrilled to be part of the Community College Growth Engine Fund,” said College President Dr. Donald “Guy” Generals. “Now, more than ever, it’s important for students to have access to intentional, industry-recognized training that will help them obtain family-sustaining jobs. We look forward to partnering with the Fund as we enhance this work on behalf of our students.” 

The College is part of the Lab’s second cohort in the nationally recognized Community College Growth Engine Fund (the Fund) initiative that creates micro-pathways, a new class of credentials designed to accelerate economic mobility for new majority learners.  

The four institutions joining the second cohort include:  

  • Community College of Philadelphia (health care; STEAM life sciences and technology; and transportation and logistics)
  • Colorado Community College System (energy and health care)  
  • Maricopa Community Colleges in Arizona (advanced manufacturing and IT)
  • Bunker Hill Community College in Boston (health care and IT) 

“Learner attitudes about school and work are shifting, employers are at the table looking for new solutions, and community colleges are on the brink of change,” said Dr. Lisa Larson, head of the Community College Growth Engine Fund. “There has never been a more pressing moment to figure out what the next generation of community colleges are and, importantly, how to get there. So far, we’ve seen firsthand how the Fund’s micro-pathway model and design process can serve as a gateway to community college transformation.”   

Additional information on the Community College Growth Engine Fund can be found online. 

  

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