Achieving the Dream Introduction

Achieving the Dream At-a-glance (PDF)

Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count (Video)

Conceived in 2004 by Lumina Foundation for Education and seven national partner organizations, Achieving the Dream is focused on creating a “culture of evidence” on community college campuses in which data collection and analysis drive efforts to identify problems that prevent students from succeeding—particularly low-income students and students of color—and develop programs to help them stay in school and receive a certificate or diploma.  With these new institutions, Achieving the Dream’s network now includes more than 130 institutions in 24 states and the District of Columbia, reaching more than one million students. 

Each new college has made an initial two-year commitment to focus its efforts on closing performance gaps among student sub-groups including students of color and low-income students.  These colleges will not only learn from those that are already a part of Achieving the Dream, they will 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.  Achieving the Dream colleges make lasting changes in policies, programs, and services that are integrated to support success for all students.

“We are excited about joining Achieving the Dream,” A-B Tech President Hank Dunn said. “We believe so strongly in the importance of helping students succeed that the words ‘dedicated to student success’ are part of the college’s mission statement. Taking students wherever they are when they come to us and helping them get to where they want to be is what A-B Tech is all about. So, participating in Achieving the Dream signifies our desire to do all we can to ensure their success.