TCC continues distinction initially achieved during first year of eligibility
Fort Worth, Texas (Sept. 15, 2016) – Tarrant County College recently learned it is one of only 17 colleges recertified as an Achieving the Dream Leader College. ATD Leader College designation is a national honor awarded to institutions in the Achieving the Dream (ATD) National Network that have continued to show steady improvement in outcomes that measure student success beyond an initial three-year period.
“Leader College status represents a sustained, successful effort to build a student-centered culture,” said ATD President and CEO Karen A. Stout, Ed.D. “Colleges that stay focused on the hard work of transformation deserve to be recognized when they make measurable progress.”
ATD honored TCC for making strides in Hispanic students’ completion rates in entry-level college English courses to 76.5 percent in fall 2012, up by 2.4 percent from 74.1 in fall 2009. Additionally, the District has shown a steady and consistent increase in credential attainment among Hispanic students during the last four years to 12.4 percent, up from 10.6 percent, with noteworthy gains of 10.8 percent and 11 percent in the second and third years.
“As an Achieving the Dream Leader College, TCC continues to excel in helping our students achieve their visions for success,” said TCC Chancellor Eugene Giovannini, Ed.D. “The myriad interventions the College has implemented since first joining the Achieving the Dream network clearly have worked for our students, and I credit the ongoing commitment of our faculty and staff for achieving Leader College recertification.”
He explained that TCC’s interventions included supplementary instruction, campus writing labs and early intervention by instructors. TCC’s results also were augmented by its Graduation Outreach Program, case management advising professionals and professional development and awareness workshops.
Leader Colleges are eligible to compete for all grant-funded learning initiatives offered by ATD and are encouraged to provide leadership and support to other colleges in the ATD network, disseminate lessons learned, support state and national efforts to advance the student success agenda, and continue to improve student outcomes.
Achieving the Dream grants Leader College designation for three-year cycles. After three years, institutions must undergo a recertification process to maintain Leader College status.
Tarrant County College serves more than 100,000 students each year and is one of the 20 largest higher education institutions in the United States. The two-year college offers a wide range of opportunities for learners of all ages and backgrounds, including traditional programs, such as Associate of Arts degrees, Community & Industry Education courses, workshops and customized training programs. The College has six campuses throughout Tarrant County, including TCC Connect that provides flexibility with e-Learning and Weekend College. TCC also assists employers in training their workforces with its TCC Opportunity Center. TCC earned the distinction as an Achieving the Dream Leader College during its first year of eligibility and was recertified in 2016.
Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit that is dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, Achieving the Dream today leads a student success network made up of over 200 institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams – working throughout 35 states and the District of Columbia. The Achieving the Dream National Reform Network helps more than 4 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams.
