Community Colleges and the Future of the Humanities

General education coursework, of which the humanities is a part, is not "just another course to get out of the way" within a student's educational pathway. In this session, participants will learn how the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD), through the implementation of Guided Pathways (GP), is moving faculty from this mental model to one that views general education in general, and the humanities in particular, as being part of an essential, intentional and coherent learning experience. The GP framework represents a collective, institution-wide transformation of practices, policies, structures, and mental models. Pathway mapping, a key element of the GP redesign, is the process of mapping out academic certificates, degrees, trade and technical training programs, and transfer options. Effective implementation of pathway mapping involves engaging faculty from all disciplines, both occupational and transfer, in an intentional mapping process grounded in backward design principles, with a focus on developing holistic program learning outcomes. This approach affirms the importance of humanities education in the lives and careers of students and transforms faculty reluctance into enthusiasm to engage and support the process, resulting in positive outcomes for student learning.