Leah Meyer Austin Award

About

The Leah Meyer Austin award is the highest distinction a college in the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network can earn. ATD bestows this award annually to a college that employs a holistic approach to reducing equity gaps between student groups and increasing success for all. The award recognizes institutional strength, aligned policies and procedures, a student-focused culture, and notable increases in student outcomes. The application period is open until October 17, 2024

Eligibility

Eligible ATD Network institutions are Leader Colleges or Leader Colleges of Distinction in good standing, have been participants in the ATD Network for at least three years, and have not won the award in the last five years. In addition, eligible colleges have met one or more of the following data criteria. 

• Four-year improvement of at least three percentage points in the IPEDS on time completion for the level of associated credential awarded (first-time, full-time students) [Note: previously, this metric had been three-year graduation rate but, due to the increasing number of community colleges offering baccalaureate degrees, was updated to reflect two- and four-year credentials]  

• Selection as one of the top 150 colleges in the competition for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
  

Metrics 

Colleges must report four years of data and show substantive three-year upward trends in the following categories: 

Overall Metrics 

• Three distinct metrics must be presented in the online application. Please note that the gateway metric includes three sub-metrics. Colleges may use only one gateway sub-metric in the Overall category. 

• The metrics in this category must include two leading indicators (early momentum metrics) and one lagging indicator (completion or transfer). 

• Demonstrate a substantial improvement of three percentage points or more over three years. 

Equity Metrics 

• Two distinct metrics should be presented in the online application. Unlike the Overall metrics, colleges can present more than one gateway sub-metric in the Equity section. The strongest applications, however, will highlight equity improvements beyond the gateway sub-metrics.  

• The metrics presented should demonstrate equity improvements for two separate student groups. For example, equity gap metric one highlights the equity gap improvement between part-time student and full-time student outcomes (student groups A and B) while the equity gap two highlights the equity gap improvement between Pell-eligible students and non-Pell-eligible students (student groups C and D). 

•  Demonstrate a substantial improvement of two percentage points or more in closing or narrowing equity gaps over three years.  Specifically, closing gaps is best demonstrated by a decline in the size of the gap between two student groups.  While increases across subgroups is also laudatory, the emphasis here is on closing gaps.  Please also note that a narrowed gap as a result of lesser gains of one subgroup is not considered a true measure of equity gains.   
  

When applying for the Leah Meyer Austin Award, colleges will complete their data template and then move to the online application where they will discuss the interventions deemed responsible for the metrics that demonstrate gains in both the improvements and the distributions outlined above. Colleges will also be required to submit a President’s Letter of Support and an Evidence of Institutional Transformation document.