Recommendations / Education / Big Idea #2: The Classic City Pathway: Articulation Program

Big Idea #2: The Classic City Pathway: Articulation Program

Part of the "ATHENS UNITED" initiative

EducationAthens-Clark$500,000–$1,000,000

Overview

Establish The Classic City Pathway (CCP), a comprehensive, multi-institutional academic articulation and wraparound student retention program that unifies the Athens-Clarke County School District (ACCSD), Athens Technical College, and the University of Georgia (UGA). Designed to address student retention from dual enrollment through college graduation, the initiative provides a structured transfer track for an annual cohort of 25 local students. The framework delivers dedicated cross-institutional transfer advising, specialized readiness workshops, and a campus-based Living-Learning Community (LLC) where full room and board is subsidized as a core program benefit.

Action plan

Short-term
(Short Term 0-1 Year - Program Design & Approval): Form a multi-institutional working group with representatives from ACCSD, Athens Tech, and UGA; negotiate and draft the formal articulation agreement documentation between participating institutions; develop targeted student/family recruitment strategies and design marketing collateral; build out the dedicated program web portal; identify, onboard, and train key staff, including a full-time Program Director and an Academic/Transfer Advisor; establish the baseline data report parameters.
Medium-term
(Medium Term 1-3 Years - Implementation & Support): Fully launch and implement the living-learning community curriculum, workshop tracks, and student support models; enroll and support the first and second student pilot cohorts (25 students annually); deploy interactive data dashboards to actively track student performance outcomes, credit transfers, and milestone progression; refine advisory tools, student support guides, and curricula based on ongoing cohort evaluations.
Long-term
(Long Term 3+ Years - Sustainability & Broader Impact): Achieve measurable, long-term increases in student retention, technical-to-university transfers, and graduation rates; scale up the initiative by expanding program offerings to include additional specialized majors, certifications, and career pathways; secure permanent multi-year institutional funding streams via public grants and private sponsorships; establish a dedicated program alumni network to foster long-term community mentorship and career advocacy.

Expected impact

Projected Program EnrollmentEducational

Total number of local ACCSD students formally recruited, selected, and matriculating into the pathway cohort annually.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Retention Rate ImprovementEducational

Percentage tracking active pathway participants maintaining consecutive, successful enrollment across the technical and university tiers.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Public SatisfactionCommunity

Post-occupancy survey assessments scoring student cohort integration, feelings of safety, and perceived levels of community belonging.

Timeframe: Short-term
Projected Graduation IncreaseEducational

Long-term tracking metric evaluating cohort post-secondary degree completion trends at Athens Tech and UGA.

Timeframe: Long-term

Key stakeholders

Athens-Clarke County School District (ACCSD)Athens Technical CollegeUniversity of Georgia (UGA)Georgia College Advising Corps (GCAC)UGA & Athens Tech Alumni AssociationsAthens Area Chamber of CommerceUniversity System of Georgia (USG) Board of Regents

Estimated budget

$535,500.00 Total Annual Recurring Operating Budget. • Personnel & Benefits: $104,000/year for full-time Program Director ($80,000 base salary + 30% benefits loading); $71,500/year for Academic/Transfer Advisor ($55,000 base salary + 30% benefits loading). • Direct Student Support (Sustaining 25 students): $300,000/year for subsidized Room and Board housing accommodations at UGA ($12,000 per student annually); $12,500/year for books and supplies allocations ($500 per student annually). • Programmatic Operations: $30,000/year for core elements, academic workshops, financial literacy programs, and readiness activities; $5,000/year for ongoing marketing, recruitment initiatives, and portal management. Note: Direct undergraduate student tuition and mandatory fees are entirely covered via external state-level HOPE or Zell Miller scholarship payouts.