san antonio college

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Institutional Research and Effectiveness
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Achieving The Dream


Achieving the Dream (AtD) at San Antonio College

What is AtD?
Open access to higher education is a vital role of community colleges. Research shows that low income students and students of color are retained and attain degrees and certificates at significantly lower rates than white and Asian students. This achievement gap is a considerable challenge statewide and nationally.

“Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count” is a multi-year initiative funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education that addresses this challenge. All colleges of the Alamo Community College District are participating in this initiative to increase student success, particularly that of the underserved population. The identified student outcome indicators are the following:

  1. Successful completion of remedial courses and progression to college-level courses
  2. Enrollment and successful completion of college-level "gatekeeper" courses
  3. Productive grades (C or higher) in all courses
  4. Semester to semester persistence
  5. Graduation

Cohort Tracking
Research Findings
JBL Data

To increase student success, particularly that of the underserved population, San Antonio College is cultivating a culture of evidence and accountability. All San Antonio College stakeholders are essential to this effort. Two groups are charged with leading the process of analyzing data and guiding institutional change.

AtD TEAMS
AtD Core Team
AtD Data Team

Why is AtD important to the college?
Although San Antonio College has done a good job in providing post-secondary opportunities to a broad segment of the community, it is essential that we do a better job to achieve institutional excellence, help students achieve their dream, and ultimately have a favorable impact on the local and state economy.

AtD LINKS
SAC Institutional Research and Effectiveness
ACCD Research Committee
Lumina Foundation for Education
American Association of Community Colleges

AtD Documentation
The documentation related to Achieving the Dream at San Antonio College is provided below:

DATA AND REPORTS
Date
Document
Description
Aug. 2004
Analysis of grades and enrollment for selection of additional Achieving the Dream gatekeeper courses by college.
Oct. 2004
Joint sessions of District Data Team members from all colleges on October 28-29, 2004, concluded with the formulation of these recommendations presented to the District Core Team for discussion and approval.
Oct. 2004

pdflogo Faculty and Staff Input
Summary report of the ACCD Employee Development Day designed to gather information from the faculty and staff.
Oct. 2004
Summary report of student focus group discussions designed to gather information from the students' perspective.
Oct. 2004

pdflogo Institutional Policy and Practice Inventory
Inventory of key College policies and practices reviewed in terms of AtD goals.
Oct. 2004

pdflogo Intervention Program Data Response Report
Inventory of programs and services that may impact the targeted population.
Oct. 2004

MS PowerPoint logo A First Look at SAC 2003 CCSSE Results

pdflogo A First Look at SAC 2003 CCSSE Results
Powerpoint presentation of SAC 2003 CCSSE results.
Oct. 2004
Preliminary analysis of fall 2002 and fall 2003 student cohort data.
Nov. 2004

pdflogo Student Outcomes

 
In-depth study of JBL cohort data emphasizing demographics, gatekeeper courses, developmental courses, and persistence presented in graphic format.
Nov. 2004
Data Team report to Core Team based on analysis of faculty and staff input, student input, institutional policies and practices, intervention strategies, fall 2002 and fall 2003 cohort data results and CCSSE results.
Dec.2004

MS PowerPoint logo SAC Presentation at the AtD Retreat

pdflogo SAC Presentation at the AtD Retreat
Powerpoint presentation resulting from the Retreat's consensus-building session. It summarizes SAC's findings and top strategies for impact on the targeted groups.
Jan. 2005

pdflogo AtD Strategy Institute Brief

 
A handout to initiate group discussion sessions at the Strategy Institute (January 23-25, 2005, Tampa, Florida) on student success and gap findings, progress achieved in building a culture of evidence, and how decisions are being made about Achieving the Dream priorities at San Antonio College.
Jan. 2005
Table discussion documentation from the Strategy Institute in Tampa, Florida (January 23-25, 2005).
Jan. 2005
Recommendations from SAC Data and Core teams to the District Data and Core Team.
April 2005

pdflogo AtD Research Briefs

SAC's AtD performance reports focusing on the status and progress of first-time-in-college student cohorts in developmental (remedial) courses, gatekeeper courses, persistence, graduation and 2003 CCSSE results. The Research Briefs will be used by the four schools and the District as tools to inform and engage the public and community-at-large about Achieving the Dream goals.

May 2005

pdflogo Term Fall 2004 Cohort Charts

pdflogo Demographic Fall 2004 Cohort Charts

pdflogo Comparision of Term Fall 2004 Cohort Charts

pdflogo Comparison of Demographic Fall 2004 Cohort Charts

JBL fall 2004 cohort term summary and student general record summary data.
Aug. 2005
Jun. 2007

Cohort Tracking - August 2005
Cohort Tracking - June 2007
JBL cohort tracking reports focusing on first-time-in-college students for fall 2002 through fall 2005.

 

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San Antonio College, 1300 San Pedro Avenue, San Antonio, TX 78212-4299 Phone: 210/733-2000, Technology Hotline: 733-2169
One of the Alamo Community Colleges. The Alamo Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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