Pathways General Education

Virginia Tech’s Pathways General Education curriculum was implemented for entering students in Fall 2018. Pathways is designed to help students examine the world from multiple perspectives and integrate their knowledge across disciplines and domains of learning through a hands-on, minds-on approach. All undergraduate students at Virginia Tech participate in the Pathways program.

The Institutional Effectiveness unit facilitates Pathways assessment. Beginning in Fall 2024, Pathways assessment utilizes a sampling methodology that aims to collect data from a subset of course sections that is representative of the general education curriculum. The revised process is conducted on a four-year cycle in which data are collected from sampled course sections in years one and two, the Pathways community analyzes the data and suggests program improvements in year three, and recommended improvements go through university governance as needed in year four.

Pathways assessment data are used to inform and improve the Pathways curriculum to enhance student learning at Virginia Tech, not to evaluate individual instructors or courses. Submitted data are aggregated at the student learning outcome level, ensuring that data are not student, instructor, or course identifiable.

For assistance, please contact the following:

Pathways Assessment:

Molly Hall
Senior Associate Director, Institutional Effectiveness
Phone: 540-231-5432
Email: mrhall@vt.edu

General Questions About Pathways or the Proposal Process:

Jenni Gallagher
Assistant Director for General Education, Office of Undergraduate Curriculum
Email: jennigal@vt.edu

Course Planning:

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Email: teaching@vt.edu

If you need additional assistance or information, please feel free to email Molly Hall or call 540-231-5432; or email Bethany Bodo or call 540-231-6003.