HCC to help develop career-focused student advising model

Oct 11, 2016

Houston Community College (HCC) is among five higher education and institutional leaders in the country chosen to develop a new model of best-practice student advising tools called Purpose First.

The two-year initiative, funded by a $1M grant from USA Funds® to Complete College America, will enable students to pursue their college goals with a stronger sense of purpose, increased motivation, and more confidence that the program they choose best matches their academic and personal strengths.

“To ensure students get the most from their tuition dollars, they need to follow a more purposeful path through college and into rewarding careers, guided by real-time information about the needs of the labor market that students will enter following graduation,” said Carol D’Amico, USA Funds executive vice president, National Engagement and Philanthropy.

Purpose First will combine career assessment and counseling, college return-on-investment data, and labor market information to assist college students in making more fully informed and deliberate choices of majors and careers.

“We are very honored to be a leading institution that provides pathways for students to make the transition from education to successful careers,” said Dr. Kimberly Beatty, vice chancellor of Instructional Services and chief academic officer.

HCC, in partnership with the University of Houston, will join the other systems to create and implement a set of tools and practices that other postsecondary institutions can replicate to improve student outcomes through advisement.

“We give them those tools to make better informed decisions on the front end, provide a clear path to graduation day, and ensure they have the resources necessary to get there,” said Stan Jones, president, Complete College America.

For information about programs and courses offered at HCC, visit hccs.edu.