Achieving the Dream awards its highest honor to Sinclair Community College for sustained student success results

Achieving the Dream (ATD) today awarded Sinclair Community College the 2023 Leah Meyer Austin Award, its highest recognition given annually to a college in the ATD Network that demonstrates exemplary practices and effective strategies that have led to a student-focused culture, notable increases in student outcomes, and reduction of equity gaps.

Specifically, the college increased four-year completion from 22 percent to 30 percent over a four-year period. For Black students, four-year completion increased from 15 percent to 22 percent. For adult students aged 24 and older, a quarter of whom are Black, four-year completion nearly doubled, from 26 percent to 47 percent. Most impressive is that the college was able to maintain completion momentum for students through the disruption of the pandemic.

“This award’s rigorous requirements are meant to motivate and recognize whole college transformation that results in greater student success and equity,” says Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “Sinclair’s story is one of deep commitment to student success goals at all levels—Board of Trustees, the president, faculty and staff, and administrative leaders.  This ‘all in’ on student success approach and their long view on change knowing that their unwavering focus on student success mattered offers the field an important lesson on persistence and patience.”