WINSTED, CT – April 12, 2021 – Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCCC), has been selected, after a national application process, to attend the CCRC’s Summer 2021 Institute, Guided Pathways at Rural Colleges: Using Data to Launch Large-Scale Reform   The Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Columbia University is an independent research center that studies two-year college institutions to strengthen opportunities and improve outcomes for their students, particularly those from underserved populations.

The Institute is designed to help rural and rural-serving colleges overcome the unique challenges they face in implementing the nationally successful initiative of guided pathways.  With the support of CCRC researchers, NCCC will develop data-driven plans for implementing reforms that will help them to recruit and retain students, improve student success rates, and close equity gaps. NCCC will receive additional support from CCRC researchers through the end of 2021.

“NCCC is already known across the country as a nationally-ranked community college.  The knowledge we will gain from having access to the finest researchers in the country, will ensure we provide the very best educational opportunities for our students and increase our success and graduation rates,” said Dr. Dave Ferreira, Dean of Academic & Student Affairs.

Dr. Michael Rooke, President of Northwestern Connecticut Community College, added, “We are delighted to partner with the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University, to get their support as we make this transition to a Guided Pathways approach.  By changing our approach to the way that we guide and advise our students, we will help them make clear, achievable, academic plans from start to finish and see more of our students succeed!  We are also grateful to the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education for the added investment of more academic advisors at Northwestern.”

NCCC will attend the summer Institute virtually, during the month of July and will begin implementing the reforms in fall 2021.

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