Achieving the Dream (AtD) at Palo Alto 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 the success of low income students and students of color. The identified student outcome indicators are the following:
- Successful completion of remedial courses and progression to college-level courses.
- Enrollment and successful completion of college-level “gatekeeper” courses.
- Productive grades (C or higher) in all courses.
- Semester to semester persistence.
- Graduation.
- Transfer (a Palo Alto College specific goal).
To increase student success, particularly that of the underserved population, Palo Alto College is cultivating a culture of evidence and accountability.
All Palo Alto College stakeholders are essential to this effort and two PAC groups have been constituted to ensure AtD success:
Why is AtD important to the college?
Although Palo Alto 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 Documentation
The documentation related to Achieving the Dream at Palo Alto College has been divided into two groups, identified by date, and provided a short descriptor to facilitate review.
| AGENDA AND MINUTES |
| Document & Date |
Description |
|  AtD Goal
Action Plan
Oct. 2004 |
This document highlights the strategies crafted at the PAC Strategic Planning Retreat (October 1, 2004) and the ACCD Employee Development Day (October 11, 2004) to attain the Achieving the Dream goals.he college to support organizational change. |
| AtD
Retreat Notes
Dec. 2004 |
Notes from the December 1, 2004 AtD Retreat at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, on data and core team plans, District core leaders’ help, coach and data facilitator support, and challenges to get the college to support organizational change. |
 PAC Presentation at the AtD Retreat
Dec. 2004 |
A PowerPoint presentation resulting
from the Retreat’s Building Consensus session. It summarizes PAC’s data analysis findings about successful students groups, factors contributing to success, target groups, and top strategies for impact on the identified target groups. |
|
| RESEARCH BRIEFS |
| Document & Date |
Description |
Research Brief 1
Cohort Demographics
|
The first PAC’s AtD periodical performance report focusing on the demographic characteristics of first-time-in-college (FTIC) student cohorts. |
Research Brief 2
Developmental Education
|
Report assessing the levels of successful completion (A, B, or C) of developmental (remedial) courses in English, Mathematics, and Reading by AtD student cohort at Palo Alto College. |
Research Brief 3
Gatekeeper Courses
|
Report assessing the levels of successful completion (A, B, or C) of first college-level “gatekeeper” courses in Mathematics and English by AtD student cohort at Palo Alto College. |
Research Brief 4
Persistence and Academic Success
|
A report on the persistence (re-enrollment) semester by semester of AtD student cohorts at Palo Alto College. |
Research Brief 5
Graduation
|
A report on Palo Alto College graduation rates for the 2003-2004 academic year and a 2000 FTIC student cohort based on a graduation report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
|
Research Brief 6
CCSSE
|
A report on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement for Palo Alto College. |
|
| DATA AND REPORTS |
| Document & Date |
Description |
Gatekeeper Course Report
|
This analysis of grades and enrollment for selection of additional Achieving the Dream gatekeeper courses by college was prepared by District. |
AtD Data Team Recommendations for a Culture of Evidence
|
Joint working sessions with data team and core team members from all colleges on October 28-29, 2004 concluded with the formulation of these recommendations for a culture of evidence which were presented to the District core team for discussion and approval. |
AtD Policy Taxonomy
|
An inventory of key college policies and practices that can be used in reviewing or implementing campus practices related to AtD outcomes. |
AtD Program and Service Inventory
|
The Program and Service Inventory is designed to provide a brief overview of applicable programs or services that may impact the target population (e.g., Learning Centers, PASSKey, Strategies for Success, etc.) |
Data Graphs
|
Analysis of processed cohort data emphasizing demographics, gatekeeper courses, developmental courses, and persistence, produced the graphs contained in this file. The data was compiled by JBL Associates. |
AtD Strategy Institute brief
|
A handout to help initiate group discussion sessions at the Strategy Institute (January 23-25, 2005 in Tampa, Florida) on student success and gaps findings, progress achieved in building a culture of evidence, and how decisions are being made about Achieving the Dream priorities at Palo Alto College. |
|
Contact
Catherine Chapa, (210) 921-5243, cchapa@accd.edu
|
