Albany Technical now a part of the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network; committed to rigorous student success and completion
September 17, 2012- ALBANY, GA-Signifying a strong commitment to student success and completion, Albany Technical College is one of the 26 institutions selected this year, into the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network – the nation's most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education history. Albany Technical College has already started the groundwork to identify strategies to close achievement gaps and increase student retention, persistence, and completion rates. This week (Sept. 17-20), Albany Tech's Achieving the Dream Core Team has developed a series of events to begin engagement with students, faculty and staff.
"This new cohort of colleges will collectively help 275,000 students succeed," said Beverly Fletcher, Senior Director of Organizational Development and Change for Achieving the Dream. "And the success of each student means much more than just a personal goal secured. It means improved skills, better employability, and economic growth for their community and our nation as a whole."
With an internal kickoff with faculty and staff on Monday, September 17th, a series of events on Tuesday through Thursday are expected. On Tuesday, September 18th, in the Kirkland Conference Center, Kenneth Cutts, District Director for Sanford D. Bishop's office, will deliver a keynote speech on "Equity," which is one of the five principles of Albany Tech's Achieving the Dream initiative. On Thursday, September 20th, students will take part in a special "football game" designed to showcase obstacles they may face as a college student and how to overcome and complete college.
As an Achieving the Dream Institution, Albany Technical College will continue to develop and implement research-based policies and practices based on quantitative and qualitative analyses of its institutional strengths, problem areas, and achievement gaps. Albany Tech is committed to assessing the effectiveness of these policies and practices, institutionalizing the approaches that prove successful, and sharing the findings widely. Through Achieving the Dream, Albany Tech will have the opportunity to learn from other Achieving the Dream Institutions, and receive assistance from experienced practitioners in building a culture of evidence campus- wide, using data to identify problems, setting priorities, and measuring progress toward increasing student success.
The Achieving the Dream 2012 Cohort
|
Albany Technical College (GA) |
Columbia Gorge Community College (OR) | Oregon Coast Community College (OR) |
| Arkansas Baptist College (AR) | Columbus State Community College (OH) | Pierce College (WA) |
| Atlanta Technical College (GA) | Columbus Technical College (GA) |
Southwestern Oregon Community College (OR) |
| Atlantic Cape Community College (NJ) | Gaston College (NC) | St. Petersburg College (FL) |
| Augusta Technical Community College (GA) | Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GA) | Stanly Community College (NC) |
| Blue Mountain Community College (OR) | Klamath Community College (OR) | Tillamook Bay Community College (NC) |
| Central Alabama Community College (AL) | Kingborough Community College (NY) | Umpqua Community College (OR) |
| Central Georgia Technical College (GA) | Linn-Benton Community College (OR) | Wallace State Community College (AL) |
| College of Southern Nevada (NV) | Miami Dade College (FL) |
"The work of closing achievement gaps and improving student success is extremely difficult and critically important," said Beverly Fletcher, Senior Director of Organizational Development and Change for Achieving the Dream. "Being an Achieving the Dream Institution takes courage, discipline, and a tenacious institution- wide commitment to student success and equity. Albany Technical College should be applauded for helping tackle one of society's most daunting challenges: success for more college students."
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