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. Now in its sixth year, Achieving the Dream includes over 100 colleges in 22 states. STCC is one of only four community colleges in Massachusetts to be involved in this initiative.
Achieving the Dream colleges place special emphasis on student groups that have traditionally 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 like STCC have made specific commitments to improve student achievement on their campuses. They have pledged to maintain open access to educational opportunities while increasing the percentage of students who:
- Complete developmental courses and move on to college-level courses
- Enroll in and complete gatekeeper courses, such as English Composition I and Statistics
- Complete the courses they take, earning a grade of C or higher
- Successfully satisfy their academic goals at STCC