High-impact teaching enhances learning. Students learn best and are more likely to complete credentials when learning environments include collaborative seminars, shared intellectual experiences, service learning and writing-intensive courses. We spread these across the first-year experience in all 8 Areas of Study.

Student-centered Pathways classrooms empower students to make intentional decisions about higher education. This means communicating to students in the classroom about the overall organization and goals of programs and Areas of Study. Providing students with carefully-designed program maps will minimize harm if they decide on a different pathway later.

Ideally, a student's first year in a given pathway will prepare them to enter any program of study within that area. This requires making explicit connections between courses in related fields.

SLCC Pathways: Curricular Design Principles