Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream is a nation-wide initiative aimed at helping community college students succeed in completing coursework and earning certificates and/or degrees. It is an initiative that uses student achievement data to effect broad institutional change.
Achieving the Dream colleges are particularly attentive to student groups that traditionally have faced significant barriers to success, including students of color and low-income students. Because too many students leave community colleges without earning a certificate or degree, or without transferring to continue their studies, Achieving the Dream colleges strive for:
- Institutional change
- Policy change
- Public engagement
- Knowledge development
Achieving the Dream colleges like STCC have made specific commitments to improve student achievement on their campuses. They have pledged to maintain open access while working to increase the percentage of first-time credential-seeking students who:
- Complete developmental courses and move on to credit-bearing courses
- Enroll in and complete gatekeeper courses, such as introductory math and English
- Complete the courses they take, earning a grade of C or higher
- Re-enroll from one semester to the next
- Earn certificates and degrees