Learning at Every Stage of Life

Supporting seamless transitions from early learning through college, career, and beyond.

Our Mission & Vision

We drive equity-centered innovation across P-20 education, expanding pathways to credentials, careers, and economic mobility for all learners.

Support Our center

What We Do

Research, leadership development, and technical support that strengthens K-12 schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions as engines of equity, opportunity, and mobility for students across their lifelong learning journey.

Research and Projects

Explore our library actionable resources and project portfolio related to community college systems, student success, credential attainment, workforce pathways, economic mobility, and more.

Leadership Development and Training

Participate in a professional development opportunity, including our annual Transfer Pathways Summit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Consulting Support

Make a consulting inquiry for how we might support your project. We have wide-ranging expertise in program development, assessment and evaluation, stackable credential pathways, and more.

A special message from the Founding Director

Dean Eboni M. Zamani-Gallaher on our commitment to supporting all learners across the educational continuum.

A girl in a pitt sweatshirt smiling with two classmates

Our Deep Bench of Experts

We have expertise and experience in supporting all stages of learning from early childhood, to college, to lifelong learning programs for older adults.

meet the team

A panel of students laughing and smiling at the annual Transfer Pathways Summit

Strengthening Transfer Pathways

We believe every community college student should have seamless pathways toward earning credentials of value, including joining four-year institutions without credit loss.

discover our annual summit

Explore Our Resources

Explore our latest findings

Featured

Two people wearing graduation caps and gowns smile at each other outdoors during a graduation ceremony.

Publications

Outreach and Engagement for Racially Minoritized Adults at the Community College

This guidebook provides colleges with communication strategies for engaging with adult learners across all stages

A woman with long dark hair and a brown patterned shirt stands in front of a dark, blurred background, looking at the camera with a slight smile.

Publications

Culturally Sustaining Professional Development for Community College Faculty and Staff

This guidebook provides colleges with strategies for embedding culturally relevant and sustaining practices in the workplace

Man wearing a gray apron and green shirt smiling with arms crossed in a well-lit café or restaurant, with shelves and another person in the blurred background.

Publications

Framework for Advancing Equitable Credit for Prior Learning

This guidebook provides colleges with a framework for Credit for Prior Learning systems

A group of small international flags is displayed in a holder on top of a stack of three books against a green background.

Blog

Navigating Identity Between Two Worlds – Part Two

Universities must address systemic barriers by providing culturally responsive mental health support, language access, and inclusive communities to improve belonging

A small globe wearing a graduation cap with a yellow tassel sits on top of a closed hardcover book.

Blog

Navigating Identity Between Two Worlds – Part 1

International students grapple with identity, pressure, and isolation beyond homesickness while navigating belonging between worlds

Two workers in a warehouse, one holding a clipboard and the other in a safety vest pointing toward shelves lined with boxes.

Publications

Using Labor Market Information to Build Career-Connected Pathways

New guidebook to help design labor market-aligned career pathways for college students

A man with a beard sits on a couch, smiling and talking to another person whose back is to the camera.

Podcasts

Promoting Racial Equity in Credentialing Pathways

Listen to the 8-episode podcast series about supporting adult learners of color earn quality credentials

A blue and white graphic reads, “Centering the Role of Advising Redesign for Effective Guided Pathways Implementation,” with four college logos on the right.

Publications

Guided Pathways Framework for Advising

Case studies about the Guided Pathways Framework to improve academic and career outcomes for college students

Three graduates in caps and gowns toss their mortarboards into the air in front of a building, beneath a blue banner with the text about career integration in higher education.

Publications

Institutionalizing Career-Connected Pathways

A resource guide for implementing career-connected pathways at colleges and universities

Image of a hand running along grain in a field

Publications

Rural Serving Community Colleges

Part of the Equity in Action: Pathways Research, Strategy, and Practice Brief Series

Blog

A man wearing glasses and a gray shirt smiles while standing outdoors in a city, holding a shoulder bag, with modern buildings in the background.

Blog

How Labor Market Information Helps Colleges Link Education to Careers

Labor market information is critical for students choosing programs leading to quality jobs and sustainable economic mobility.

Blog

Navigating Identity Between Two Worlds – Part Two

Universities must address systemic barriers by providing culturally responsive mental health support, language access, and inclusive communities to improve belonging

Blog

Navigating Identity Between Two Worlds – Part 1

International students grapple with identity, pressure, and isolation beyond homesickness while navigating belonging between worlds

A man looks into a microscope while two women observe him from behind in a laboratory setting.

Blog

Fueling Economic Mobility in Pittsburgh’s Life Sciences Sector

A new job-creating project to expand pathways into the life sciences industry in Western Pennsylvania

A group of men sitting around a table working on their homework together outside in the sun

Blog

Sparking Change in P-20 Education

The Equity in Action Research and Strategy Brief Series addresses DEI backlash, supports for neurodiverse students, grantmaking tensions, and issues facing rural-serving…