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:

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.
6. 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 LINKS PAC Institutional Effectiveness and Research ACCD Research Committee Lumina Foundation for Education American Association of Community Colleges To AtD Archives

Contact Catherine Chapa (210) 486-3730 cchapa@alamo.edu