Strategies at Achieving the Dream Colleges

Each Achieving the Dream college develops strategies based on its analysis of institutional strengths, problem areas, and achievement gaps. Many colleges are striving to improve developmental education, because their data revealed large numbers of students who require developmental courses and low rates of passing and retention in these courses. Other strategies that are being pursued by Achieving the Dream colleges include the following:

• Improving gatekeeper courses
• Improving students’ first-year experience through closer advising, learning communities, orientation programs, student success courses, and other approaches 
• Piloting or expansion of learning communities 
• Providing better academic and personal advising for at-risk students 
• Improving or enhancing student support services 
• Tutoring and supplemental instruction 
• Strengthening K-14 links to improve high school students’ preparation for college and improve community college students’ successful transfer to four-year institutions 
• Engaging the community  in developing strategies and providing support for student success
• Using data  more effectively to monitor student outcomes and improve college practices. 

Learn more about the Interventions to Improve Student Outcomes Online Tool