Maricopa Community Colleges is proud to announce that three of its 10 colleges have been selected to join the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s expanded Unlocking Opportunity network. Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC), GateWay Community College (GWCC), and Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) are among the 55 institutions nationwide chosen for this three-year initiative designed to help community colleges reform programs and improve student outcomes.
“We are excited to have CGCC, GWCC, and PVCC join this initiative,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor. “The Unlocking Opportunity network’s strategic approach to systemic reform works to ensure students graduate with credentials or bachelor’s degrees that lead to high-demand careers, upward mobility, and generational change, which aligns with our system's mission.”
Why It Matters
The initiative addresses a growing national effort to align programs and student advising with what matters most to community college students—leaving college with a high-value credential that results in a good job or transferring and completing a bachelor’s degree, whether offered at Maricopa Community Colleges or another traditional four-year college or university.
Through focused reforms, participating colleges will work with the Aspen Institute to assess current programs, set goals, and implement research-based strategies to increase student success.
How It Works
Over the next three years, leaders from CGCC, GWCC, and PVCC, along with the other selected colleges, will participate in virtual and in-person sessions focused on scaling reforms that align with available high-demand careers and bachelor’s degree pathways in their region.
Using guided lessons from successful reforms implemented by the 10 Unlocking Opportunities pilot institutions, the new 55 colleges will set goals to increase student enrollment in and completion of high-value workforce and transfer programs, while decreasing lower-opportunity pathways.
The Outcome
The 10 pilot institutions from the original Unlocking Opportunity program are on track to collectively move over 20,000 students into high-value programs of study that lead to in-demand roles. For three years, Aspen will track and support progress for 65 participating colleges. Aspen will use insights from this work to inform the broader field through fellowship programs, publications, and state partnerships, providing professional development opportunities to college leaders and teams.
The complete list of colleges joining this expanded network is available here.
What Our Leaders Are Saying
“Chandler-Gilbert Community College is excited to join the Unlocking Opportunity network,” said Dr. CJ Wurster, CGCC President. “Through our partnership with the Aspen Institute, we look forward to delivering high-quality university transfer pathways for our students and preparing them for fulfilling careers by strengthening programs to ensure they meet employer and industry needs. CGCC is dedicated to advancing student success by providing an education that equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in today’s workforce and rise to the demands of the future.”
“At GateWay, we strive to open doors to opportunity for every student,” said Dr. Amy Diaz, President of GateWay Community College. “Being part of the Unlocking Opportunity network allows us to add resources in powerful new ways—ensuring our students not only complete their programs but also move into meaningful careers that change the trajectory of their lives and strengthen our community.”
“Paradise Valley Community College is proud to join the Aspen Institute’s Unlocking Opportunity network. This partnership gives us a powerful framework to strengthen how we guide students from the classroom to careers and transfer opportunities. Together, we are aligning programs with the needs of Arizona’s workforce and universities so that our students gain not only credentials, but the confidence and preparation to thrive in the next stage of their journey,” stated Dr. Jana Schwartz, President of Paradise Valley Community College.
About Unlocking Opportunity
Unlocking Opportunity, developed in partnership with the Community College Research Center, is supported by Arnold Ventures, Ascendium Education Group, Bank of America, ECMC Foundation, and JPMorganChase. The expansion of the Unlocking Opportunity network is made possible by the support of JPMorganChase. To learn more about the network, click here.