The Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Higher Education (REACH) Collaborative aims to increase the attainment of high-value non-degree credentials (NDCs) and associate degrees for adult learners of color (age 25+), particularly Black and African American, Latinx, and Indigenous learners. California Community Colleges is one of six higher education systems nationwide involved in this network, funded by Lumina Foundation. California’s participation is led by the Success Center on behalf of the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office.
Supporting the Vision for Success, this project seeks to ensure that wherever adult learners begin in California community colleges, they have a clear path to high-value postsecondary credentials and increased economic mobility. This project supports colleges in incorporating high-value short- and long-term credential opportunities within degree pathways, recognizing that today’s learners–particularly adults–need flexible on-ramps and off-ramps between learning and jobs with living wages. Building on the efforts of the Guided Pathways 2.0 Project, the 20 colleges participating in REACH receive resources and technical assistance from both our state (WestEd) and national partners (Education Strategy Group and Office of Community College Research and Leadership at University of Illinois) to create more functional degree pathways that incorporate high-quality, employer-validated NDCs and embed comprehensive support to increase the likelihood of completion.
All REACH resources and materials are available to all colleges in the Vision Resource Center within the CCC | REACH community.
Jodi Lewis Director of Strategic Initiatives E: jlewis@foundationccc.org
Cassie Donnelly Senior Program Specialist E: cdonnelly@foundationccc.org