Cafeteria Model – A common community college model in which institutions provide many disconnected, disjointed services, programs, and activities; it is often up to each student to navigate the complexities of the college experience.

Cohort: Students grouped together by meta-Major or similar group for data collection, analysis, and big -picture decision-making about pathways development. Students will have at least one statistical factor in common.

Gatekeeper Courses: The first or lowest-level college-level course students must take and successfully complete in order to progress along his or her academic pathway.

Guided Pathways Model: An institution-wide approach to student success based on intentionally designed, clear, coherent, and structured educational experiences, informed by available evidence, that guide each student effectively and efficiently from his/her point of entry through to attainment of high-quality postsecondary credentials and careers with value in the labor market. Guided Pathways is an umbrella term used to describe highly structured student experiences that guide them on the pathway to completion.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): A set of metrics designed to measure students’ progress through milestones on his or her pathway.  Specifically used to monitor the effects of institutional interventions.

Meta-Major: A collection of academic programs that have common or related content.  Programs within a meta-major will share some common requirements to allow for early exploration as students may enroll in this broad field of interest without collecting excess units.

Milestone Markers/Courses: Measurable educational achievements that denote essential degree-advancing courses such as completing a college -level math course or number of units within a defined period of time. May prompt a “nudge.”

Nudges: Actions that guide decision making while preserving freedom of choice.

Onboarding: The process of helping students move from application to first-day attendance by simplifying admissions, financial aid, orientation, and registration.

Pathway/Road Map: A descriptive and easy-to-use plan detailing the scope and sequence of courses required to complete a credential efficiently and transition to baccalaureate degree programs or the labor market.  Includes the route a student takes to connect with, enter, progress through, and complete his/her program of study, as well as, the skills they need to acquire for the labor market they will enter after their certificate or associate or baccalaureate degree.

Program: A set of courses and related activities that lead to an attainment of educational objectives such as a certificate or an associate’s degree; often referred to as a major of study.

On-ramp: The integration of developmental education as a part of helping students successfully complete the critical introductory college-level courses in their initial field of interest.  May consist of co-requisite coursework designed to scaffold students’ success in critical college-level courses.  Aligns math and other foundational skills coursework with a student’s program of study, and integrates and contextualizes instruction to build academic and non-academic foundation skills throughout the college-level curriculum, particularly in program gateway courses.

Student Educational Plan (SEP): A term-by-term individualized plan of courses a student should take based on his/her placement levels, full-time/part-time status, summer term plans, and pathway selection.  The SEP should guide students through registration.  Deviation from the SEP may adversely impact a student’s financial aid and lead to excess unit accumulation.

Structured Programs: Streamlined programs of study featuring clear choices, limited electives, and targeted coursework relevant to a career roadmap or credentials required for transfer.

Stackable Credentials: Certificate or degree programs that offer off-ramps and on-ramps for students who need to move between higher education and the workforce. In stackable credentials pathways, students’ earned credits count toward the next certificate or degree.

*Adapted from Bakersfield College’s Guided Pathways Glossary of Terms