Achieving the Dream recognizes 2021 Leader Colleges

Achieving the Dream (ATD) announced on Tuesday that four community colleges from the ATD Network have earned Leader College status, having shown steady improvement in outcomes in student success.

“Community colleges are uniquely positioned to serve as equitable hubs of social mobility and equitable transformation in the areas that they serve. The ATD Network’s Leader Colleges demonstrate strong commitments to growing as these hubs, with data to show significant progress toward building an equitable, student-centered culture on campus,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “We are proud to recognize the new and renewed Leader Colleges in the ATD Network, and to continue partnering with them to advance equity and opportunity in their communities.”

The 2021 cohort of new Leader Colleges are:

• Cleveland State Community College (TN)
• Delaware Technical Community College (DE)
• Fond Du Lac Tribal and Community College (MN)
• South Central College (MN)

In addition, 16 institutions have recertified their status as Leader Colleges:

• Atlantic Cape Community College (NJ)
• Bakersfield College (CA)
• Central Piedmont Community College (NC)
• Community College of Philadelphia (PA)
• Delaware County Community College (DE)
• Durham Technical Community College (NC)
• Gaston College (NC)
• Jackson College (MI)
• Northern Essex Community College (MA)
• Paris Junior College (TX)
• Renton Technical College (WA)
• Southwest Tennessee Community College (TN)
• Temple College (TX)
• Tyler Junior College (TX)
• Wallace State Community College (AL)
• Western Technical College (WI)

Leader Colleges play an important role in accelerating adoption of effective practices within the ATD Network and across higher education. Leader Colleges are recognized for the quality of their work in whole-college reform, resulting in increased completion rates for all students. Leader Colleges develop innovative ways to work with other colleges to share knowledge and facilitate an exchange of ideas about evidence-based reform strategies.