Rough patches occur at both ends of the education pipeline, as students enter community colleges and move on to work or enrollment in four-year institutions. Career pathways--sequences of coherent, articulated, and rigorous career and academic courses that lead to an industry-recognized certificate or a college degree--are a promising approach to easing transitions to work and future education. Career pathways are all about forward momentum and flexibility. Intended to prepare people for work in the short term, well-developed pathways programs also ensure that the way is clear for further education over time. Structured in "chunks," pathways reflect the realities of life and work in the 21st century and provide for alternate periods of work and continued education. These programs have been proven to work for traditional students and for adults in need of training or re-training. Some programs stretch from high school through community college to baccalaureate and graduate school programs. They also offer options along the way for those who decide to jump off after earning an associate or bachelor's degree. Colleges are employing a range of strategies such as tying developmental courses to existing curricula, eliminating barriers between credit and noncredit courses, and encouraging developmental students to take academic and career courses simultaneously.