The Virginia Community College System is implementing its six-year strategic plan, Opportunity 2027, with a steadfast commitment to fostering equity for Black, LatinX/Hispanic, and Native students. Through targeted initiatives such as Credits2Careers, Guided Pathways, FastForward, and the G3 program, the VCCS has already showcased their effectiveness in improving equitable outcomes for underrepresented learners. The VCCS is determined in building upon the accomplishments of the REACH initiative, with a specific focus on enhancing college completion rates for Black women in healthcare programs and increasing enrollment for Black men, who currently face low and declining participation rates.
REACH by the numbers
18
Colleges with REACH Pathways
2,987
Adult Learners Enrolled in Pathways
824K
Adult Learners of Color Who Could Benefit from Pathways
Participating Virginia REACH Colleges
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Central Virginia Community College
- Danville Community College
- Eastern Shore Community College
- Germanna Community College
- John Tyler Community College
- Mountain Empire Community College
- Mountain Gateway Community College
- New River Community College
- Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
- Patrick & Henry Community College
- Paul D. Camp Community College
- Piedmont Virginia Community College
- Rappahannock Community College
- Southside Virginia Community College
- Southwest Virginia Community College
- Tidewater Community College
- Virginia Western Community College
Strengths to Build On
- Credits2Careers: An online portal to help veterans identify potential academic credits based on their military experience.
- Guided Pathways: A program aimed at improving completion rates, particularly for minority and low-income students.
- FastForward: Promotion of high-demand, market-relevant workforce programs leading to industry-recognized credentials and short-term training programs.
- G3 Program: Last-dollar scholarships to incentivize student enrollment in high-demand career pathways, with a focus on minority students.
Focus for the Future
- Creating Safe Spaces for Black and Minority Women: Provide safe and supportive spaces for Black and other women of color on college campuses and in nearby communities.
- Minority Male Success Initiative: Increase enrollment and success for Black males and other males of color.
- Support for Justice-Impacted Individuals: Collaborate with the Department of Corrections and regional jails to assist individuals transitioning back into their communities after being justice-impacted.
Featured REACH Resources
REACH Brief
Building a Leadership Blueprint for Racial Equity for Adult …
A focus on racial equity in community colleges often centers around promoting diversity to enhance the learning environment, incorporate critical race theory in...
REACH Brief
Bundled and Sequenced Supports
A closer look at the second pillar of the REACH framework: the importance of bundling and sequencing supports to understand and address the many complexities of...
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