Pathway mapping begins with a series of conversations and possibly a meeting among leaders of partner institutions to:

• assess existing data and practices;
• understand partners’ needs and visions and the outcomes they’re seeking; and
• agree on a theory of change.

Suggested time commitment for Step 1: Prep, plus 1 to 2 hours, in person or virtual

Here are a presentation and video of that presentation that provide more context for Step 1.

Meeting preparation resources for Step 1

1. Gather partnership leaders, and complete a pathway partnership assessment
2. Review synthesized goals and outcomes to develop vision and a theory of change
3. Commit to regular communication and an accountability system for a strong partnership
4. It can help to share an introduction to the process ahead of time. Two valuable resources:
   • Core Elements for Career Pathway Development
   • Career Pathways Toolkit: Six Elements for Success

Objectives of the meeting in Step 1

1. Option to review presentation What is pathway mapping, and why do we do it? (video version here)
2. Review agenda for the career pathway mapping session and co-develop objectives
3. Identify key stakeholders to invite to Step 2
4. Assign roles and responsibilities:

1. • Lead facilitator(s): Creates presentations, guides mapping and planning processes, facilitates sessions.

   • Main mapper: Creates and manages pathway maps. Early in the process, the main mapper chooses a diagramming tool to create, edit, and share maps that include shapes and text. It is important that they be comfortable with the tool. It must create documents that are easily shared and have low barriers to adoption. CLP has used Lucidchart because it provides free accounts to education providers. Other technology may work better for others. For Lucidchart training, visit https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/beginners-guide-to-lucidchart.

   • Logistical coordinator: Decides which stakeholders to include in pathway mapping, such as instructional faculty, deans or department chairs, high school partners, counseling faculty, and industry. Manages meeting invitations, finds suitable meeting space, shares online resources, prints and collates materials.

Follow-up to the meeting in Step 1

• Schedule Step 2, which will be a planning meeting including representatives from K-12, community college, and four-year institutions
• Invite attendees (sample pathway mapping invitation)

This meeting is an opportunity for the leadership team to discuss the why and how of mapping with the larger group and to align their goals.

Purposes of this planning session include:

• engaging in information norming about the career pathway mapping process;
• reviewing the process and the map templates;
• determining the logistics of scheduling; and
• Clarifying what materials participants need to share ahead or bring to the session. 

Suggested time commitment for Step 2: Prep, plus 1 to 2 hours, in person or virtual

Here are a presentation and video that provide more context for Step 2.

Objectives of the meeting in Step 2 

1. Engage in the information norming of evidence-based practices by reviewing and considering opportunities for pathway design or redesign via research tools and case studies
2. Review and adapt mapping session agenda and set objectives for the session.
3. Design the three-hour in-person career pathway mapping and action planning session (this session is Step 4)
   • Ask participants to share information about their program ahead of time, or bring it to the session. Examples of program information that can be helpful to partners:
     • Community college catalog, including information that’s not yet public about certificates and degrees that have been approved
     • High school programs of study
       • High school calendar and bell schedule
     • Example of proposed curriculum
     • Dual Enrollment agreement or MOU
     • List of work-based learning opportunities now offered
     • Labor market information

Follow-up to the meeting in Step 2 

1. Choose a time and secure a location for the mapping session.
2. Send a reminder to attendees asking them to share materials with the main mapper ahead of the session, or to bring them in person on the day of the mapping session.

Resources for Step 2

1. Community College Pathway Map Template
2. High School Pathway Map Template
3. Components of a Combined High School and Community College Pathway Map
4. Considerations for High School and Community College partnerships in the mapping process

In this step, the logistical coordinator and the main mapper prepare for the mapping session, and the lead facilitator will create an accompanying presentation.

This step includes all the prep work needed for the mapping session and it offers a final opportunity to adapt the agenda.

Estimated time commitment for Step 3: 2 to 3 weeks.

Here are a presentation and video that provide more context for Step 3.

Checklist for Step 3 (for logistical coordinator)

1. Finalize the mapping session agenda.
2. If relevant, ensure the main mapper pre-populates the pathways maps with information partners have provided (such as existing program maps, labor market information, or the high school master schedule).
3. Ensure the facilitator creates presentation slides for the mapping session to illustrate the why and the how of mapping and give the session structure.
4. Select relevant pathways map examples to share (may be chosen by sector, region, or institution).
5. Select relevant resources to share (sample resource packet).

Printing lists and materials list for logistical coordinator

>Print posters for group work, 36” x 48” if possible (most neighborhood copy and printing shops can print at those dimensions).

• •  Pathways maps: one per institution

>Print resources for mapping session participant packets (if you plan to provide them):

• Agenda
• Printout of presentation slides
• Pathway map examples
• Relevant resources (example resource packet)

>Materials to bring to the session:

• Markers
• Small sticky notes
• Painters tape for affixing posters to the wall
• Name tags for all participants
• Sign-in sheet: include contact information for follow-up

In this facilitated session (see sample agenda), participants explore career pathways concepts, map pathways, and create and action plan.

During the mapping activity, teams (broken out by institution):

• map their current pathways (using the printed mapping posters), analyze them for gaps, and begin strategic planning for increased collaboration;
• appoint a note-taker to record their work and photograph each poster (to be sure the writing is legible in the photos, take close-ups);
• encapsulate their work in action plans (on the printed planning posters) that they share with the larger group. 

Afterward, the main mapper enters the data from the posters into the mapping tool and shares the resulting maps and plans with the group. 

Estimated time commitment: 3 hours

Here are a presentation and video that provide more context for step 4. 

Key consideration for Step 4

• Pathways mapping is an opportunity to create a community of practice with students at the center so participants should be encouraged to get to know one another and reach out after the session to ask follow-up questions and explore new ideas.

The mapping session is over! Now, it’s time to gather the results and share the maps and plans that emerged from the session.

The goals of this step are to:

• synthesize and format collected notes into map(s)
• review maps with the team
• create a shared folder to collect and organize mapping document.

Time commitment and timeline of Step 5 depend on the decisions of the group.

Here are a presentation and video that provide more context for step 5.

Checklist for Step 5 (for logistical coordinator)

1. Incorporate edits and additions into the pathways maps and action plans.
2. Create a shared folder, or digital repository, that the whole group can access and include:
   • Digital versions of the pathways maps and action plans (clearly labeled by institution and sector).
   • Photos of the pathways mapping posters from the session.
   • Sign-in sheet from the session: this is important as it will allow attendees to reach out to each after the mapping session.
3. Email participants to thank them for their time, and attach an updated map.

This iteration of the partnership’s career pathways map or maps is complete, but it’s important to keep updating career pathways maps so they reflect the most current services, programs, and labor market information.