Career Pathways Mapping Toolkit
This toolkit is intended for community colleges and their partners in K-12 systems and four-year
institutions who wish to collaborate on creating strong, seamless career pathways for their
students. Career pathways maps perform three main functions: they clarify and align programs and services; they link increasing levels of certification, education, and employment; and they support students in choosing among the opportunities that interest them. Career pathways maps show a progression of certificate, transfers, degrees, and career advancement. Pathways also clarify the connections among these elements and illustrate how students can move more efficiently beyond entry-level employment and help build direct connections between institutions and employers.
The toolkit offers background on the mapping process and outlines five essential steps. Each step is supported with videos, presentations, and links to resources that can help move the process along. These steps are:
Step 1 - Initial mapping work - Project launch and leadership meeting
Step 2 - Pre-mapping work - K-12 and college planning meeting
Step 3 - Continuing preparation for the mapping session
Step 4 - Facilitated mapping session - includes planning next steps
Step 5 - Post-mapping work
Community colleges, K-12 institutions, four-year colleges, and industry collaborators
Research conducted by the (California) Career Ladders Project