Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) recently joined the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s expanded Unlocking Opportunity Network – a national initiative designed to ensure community college students earn credentials that lead to good-paying jobs and successful bachelor’s degree transfers.
Launched this month, the initiative connects PVCC with 54 other colleges across the country, as well as 10 pilot institutions, all working toward a common goal of transforming programs and advising systems so students leave with not just a credential, but also a clear path to long-term success.
“Paradise Valley Community College is proud to join the Aspen Institute’s Unlocking Opportunity network,” said PVCC President Dr. Jana Schwartz. “This partnership gives us a powerful framework to strengthen how we guide students from the classroom to careers and transfer opportunities.Together, we are aligning programs with the needs of Arizona’s workforce and universities so that our students gain not only credentials, but the confidence and preparation to thrive in the next stage of their journey.”
A Student-First Approach
Through this three-year initiative, PVCC intends to examine its programs, advising, and outcomes to ensure every pathway is high-value, whether it leads directly to a career or to transfer and completion of a bachelor’s degree. The work builds on research-based practices proven to increase graduation and employment rates, while helping students avoid lower-opportunity pathways that may not deliver strong outcomes.
“By joining the Aspen Unlocking Opportunity initiative, PVCC affirms its commitment to advancing student success through evidence-based practices,” said Eddie Lamperez, Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs, PVCC. “Our participation ensures that every program is intentionally designed to lead to meaningful outcomes, whether securing employment at a sustaining wage or pursuing a bachelor’s degree. This partnership with Aspen strengthens our capacity to align academic pathways with long-term student achievement and community impact.”
A Growing National Movement
PVCC joins a powerful coalition of institutions, including Maricopa County Community School District’s sister schools Chandler-Gilbert Community College and GateWay Community College here in Arizona. The full list can be viewed here. Together with the Aspen Institute and its partners, these colleges will share lessons, set goals, and track outcomes that directly impact students and local communities.
According to the Aspen Institute, the 10 original pilot colleges in the Unlocking Opportunity network are already on track to collectively move more than 20,000 students into high-value programs of study that lead to good jobs. With PVCC and 54 new colleges added this year, the network now reaches 65 colleges nationwide, creating momentum for lasting reform.
“Every year, millions of students rely on community colleges for a low-cost pathway to what they assume will be a high-value credential,” said Josh Wyner, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “The leaders at each of the 55 colleges that have signed up for Unlocking Opportunity have made clear that they will spend the next three years working towards the kinds of reforms needed to make that assumption a reality for thousands more students.”
For PVCC students, this national recognition means increased access to programs intentionally aligned with Arizona’s workforce needs, stronger guidance on transfer pathways, and greater assurance that their hard work will translate into meaningful opportunities. Whether a student’s goal is to enter the workforce or transfer to a university, PVCC’s commitment is clear: every program should be a stepping stone to success.
For more information about PVCC and its academic programs, visit our website. To learn more about the Aspen Institute’s Unlocking Opportunity initiative, visit Aspen Higher Ed.