Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream:  Success is What Counts

Achieving the Dream (AtD): Community Colleges Count is a multiyear national initiative to help more community college students succeed. The initiative is particularly concerned about student groups that traditionally have faced significant barriers to success, including students of color, low-income students, and first generation college students.

                

In Summer 2006, Lone Star College System received funding from the Houston Endowment Foundation to join 58 other colleges and 14 national partner organizations in the Achieving the Dream initiative. As part of the Achieving the Dream initiative, we will be working to improve student achievement by making lasting changes in both our practices and culture. The 2006/2007 academic year was used for planning and Lone Star College System staff and faculty identified five critical areas:

• Completion of developmental math, reading and writing sequence;
• Transition from developmental into college algebra and Composition I;
• Completion of two critical gatekeeper courses- College algebra and English Composition I;
• Fall to fall retention/persistence; and
• Student completion and success rates. 

In Fall 2007, Lone Star College System began launching a series of initiatives designed to ensure that more students are successful in college. The five primary strategies to bring about an increase in student success are:

• Creating a campus climate where early and continuous intervention is part of the college culture, thus providing additional support to the most at-risk students;
• Developing and implementing a student success course;
• Focusing a program of professional development for faculty and student services staff to promote a culture of evidence and to improve student engagement in the learning and advising processes;
• Reviewing policies, practices and procedures related to advising, assessment, placement, prerequisites, and payment practices; and
• Engaging the community in an advisory capacity.

Listen to what some of Lone Star College-North Harris Students have to say about our Early Intervention Initiative.  Take a few moments to watch our video titled:

"Achieving the Dream: Early Alert Makes the Difference"

Learn More from the Achieving the Dream National Initiative:

• View a Brief Movie 
  Americans value opportunity. Community colleges provide it. They enroll almost half of all undergraduates in the country, providing the education that leads to greater economic opportunity and improved quality of life.
   
• SUCCESS is what counts 
  Achieving the Dream was created to help more community college students succeed - complete courses, earn certificates and earn degrees. The initiative is built on the belief that broad institutional change - informed by student achievement data - is crucial to achieve this result. This report summarizes the Achieving the Dream initiative, particularly detailing how the initiative is designed to meet the needs of community college characteristics and challenges.