PCC’s First Year Pathway Programs – Moving Students Toward Successful Completion

Pasadena City College has made a bold investment in the success of first year students, leveraging resources from a Title V grant, Student Access and Success Initiative (SASI) funds, and faculty and staff from across the campus to create the First Year Pathway Programs. Students enrolled in Pathways are guaranteed priority registration and provided with critical support in and out of the classroom.

The First Year Pathways (FYPs) share three important components:

1. Summer Bridge

Pasadena City College’s summer bridges, called Jams, are designed to help students make a smooth transition from high school to college. The college currently hosts Math, ESL, and Design Jams.

The largest summer bridge is Math Jam a two-week, no-cost program that integrates innovative math instruction with student support services and engaging orientation-to-college activities.

Math Jam provides students with an engaging, no-stress environment in which to experience success before they begin their first college math course. Collaborative activities, workshops, and guest speakers help students feel comfortable on campus; understand the benefits of counseling, advisement, and tutoring; and make friends with their teachers, classmates, tutors, advisors, and counselors.

During Math Jam students meet their Student Success Team, comprised of first year counselors, coaches, and peer tutors. They also become acquainted with campus resources and meet a variety of college administrators, faculty, and staff.

2. The FYP Student Success Team

First Year Counselors, who have been trained to handle the special needs of first year students, dedicate part of their workload to FYP students. At specific times each day, students have immediate access to the counselors.

First Year Coaches advise and mentor students during their first year of college. The coaches assist students academically and personally by directing them to various resources as needed and support the students in acquiring and understanding regular course status reports. They also teach students strategies for college success, such as effective time management, goal-setting, and study skills.

First Year Tutors are PCC students who have succeeded in their math and English courses and have been trained to work with first year math students. They facilitate a majority of the Math Jam activities, develop relationship with the students in their caseload, and are available throughout the year to work with student one on one or in small groups.

3. College 1,“One Book, One College,” and the First Year Student Conference

PCC’s student success course, College 1, is a 3-unit UC/CSU-transferrable course required of all FYP students. It provides them with a rigorous academic experience in their first semester of college, during which time they exercise their critical reading, writing, and research skills while developing the academic and personal behaviors necessary to succeed in college.