Pathways Resource Library
Tools to help people understand their options
Explore messaging, research, and resources from across the field—along with customizable, white-label tools that you can adapt, brand as your own, and use in your organization’s communications—to help you reach key audiences with language that builds confidence and expands what’s possible.
Playbook or Guidebook
Tear the Paper Ceiling
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
The Tear the Paper Ceiling: STARs Hiring Playbook gives human resource professionals, talent leaders, and hiring managers practical tools and guidance to shift their hiring to include STARs - workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes.
Research Report
Question the Status Quo: Gen Z Teens Have Changed Their Priorities for Education and Work
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Article
What it will take to change the narrative about career education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
The article discusses the growing issue of young Americans aged 18-24 not engaging in college or work, exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite high job vacancies, there's skepticism toward non-college education and job-training programs. The article highlights policy recommendations to integrate workforce training and higher education, stressing that both traditional and non-degree credentials are essential for economic mobility. The purpose is to advocate for a broader, more inclusive approach to postsecondary education and workforce training, aiming to enhance economic opportunities for all.
Playbook or Guidebook
Building a Communications and Marketing Strategy in a State or Institution for Incremental Credentialing
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Communications and marketing are critical in the effort to transform the nation’s degree-centric postsecondary model to an incremental credentialing system. To support such a major transformation, communications and marketing are needed at three levels: state and institution Wide, individual credential and program levels, and nationwide. This Playbook focuses on the first of these.
Research Report
The American Workforce Index
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Narrative Framework
Framework for the Design and Implementation of College and Career Pathways in Rural Communities
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Pathways that respond to the unique needs of—and opportunities in—rural communities are a critical strategy to support youth and advance economic development. This framework outlines key considerations and promising strategies for pathways leaders who seek to achieve equitable outcomes for youth while strengthening rural communities.
Toolkit
From Insights to Action: Communicating Career Pathways With Confidence
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This communications toolkit is designed to help organizations and advocates effectively engage learners and employers regarding the value of career education and training programs as well as skill-based hiring. It offers research-backed messaging that reflects what people care about most—and what motivates them to take action. These messages don’t just describe the benefits of pathways programs, they also help audiences see these options as relevant, accessible, and worth pursuing. The guidance in this manual is grounded in science-based communication practices and shaped by extensive research, including a landscape analysis of messaging in the field and media, a nationally representative survey with message testing, roundtable discussions with learners and employers, and a series of pulse surveys.
This toolkit offers adaptable, ready-to-use messages, language, and themes to support outreach, engagement, and storytelling. Use them to strengthen your communications—whether you're writing a social post, developing a presentation, or talking with partners and stakeholders. The messages are designed to be flexible; feel free to use them as written or tailor them to fit your audience and voice.
Research Report
Skills-Based Hiring
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
While headlines trumpet the demise of the college degree, this joint report with Harvard Business School Project on Managing the Future of Work reveals a different reality. Many companies have announced dropping degree requirements, but sustained hiring changes remain elusive for most. This report identifies where the reality of skills-based hiring might be lagging well-meaning ambitions, and shows which companies are getting it right.
Research Report
High School Awareness Research
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This is a report containing the results of a study on new approaches in higher education, funded by the Charles Kock Foundation.
Filters
Playbook or Guidebook
Tear the Paper Ceiling
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
The Tear the Paper Ceiling: STARs Hiring Playbook gives human resource professionals, talent leaders, and hiring managers practical tools and guidance to shift their hiring to include STARs - workers Skilled Through Alternative Routes.
Research Report
Question the Status Quo: Gen Z Teens Have Changed Their Priorities for Education and Work
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Article
What it will take to change the narrative about career education
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
The article discusses the growing issue of young Americans aged 18-24 not engaging in college or work, exacerbated by the pandemic. Despite high job vacancies, there's skepticism toward non-college education and job-training programs. The article highlights policy recommendations to integrate workforce training and higher education, stressing that both traditional and non-degree credentials are essential for economic mobility. The purpose is to advocate for a broader, more inclusive approach to postsecondary education and workforce training, aiming to enhance economic opportunities for all.
Playbook or Guidebook
Building a Communications and Marketing Strategy in a State or Institution for Incremental Credentialing
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Communications and marketing are critical in the effort to transform the nation’s degree-centric postsecondary model to an incremental credentialing system. To support such a major transformation, communications and marketing are needed at three levels: state and institution Wide, individual credential and program levels, and nationwide. This Playbook focuses on the first of these.
Research Report
The American Workforce Index
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Narrative Framework
Framework for the Design and Implementation of College and Career Pathways in Rural Communities
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
Pathways that respond to the unique needs of—and opportunities in—rural communities are a critical strategy to support youth and advance economic development. This framework outlines key considerations and promising strategies for pathways leaders who seek to achieve equitable outcomes for youth while strengthening rural communities.
Toolkit
From Insights to Action: Communicating Career Pathways With Confidence
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This communications toolkit is designed to help organizations and advocates effectively engage learners and employers regarding the value of career education and training programs as well as skill-based hiring. It offers research-backed messaging that reflects what people care about most—and what motivates them to take action. These messages don’t just describe the benefits of pathways programs, they also help audiences see these options as relevant, accessible, and worth pursuing. The guidance in this manual is grounded in science-based communication practices and shaped by extensive research, including a landscape analysis of messaging in the field and media, a nationally representative survey with message testing, roundtable discussions with learners and employers, and a series of pulse surveys.
This toolkit offers adaptable, ready-to-use messages, language, and themes to support outreach, engagement, and storytelling. Use them to strengthen your communications—whether you're writing a social post, developing a presentation, or talking with partners and stakeholders. The messages are designed to be flexible; feel free to use them as written or tailor them to fit your audience and voice.
Research Report
Skills-Based Hiring
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
While headlines trumpet the demise of the college degree, this joint report with Harvard Business School Project on Managing the Future of Work reveals a different reality. Many companies have announced dropping degree requirements, but sustained hiring changes remain elusive for most. This report identifies where the reality of skills-based hiring might be lagging well-meaning ambitions, and shows which companies are getting it right.
Research Report
High School Awareness Research
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This resource may be shared with proper attribution to the organization.
This is a report containing the results of a study on new approaches in higher education, funded by the Charles Kock Foundation.