Aiken Technical College
Institutionalized professional development for faculty and new approaches to the developmental math curriculum are associated with course completion for students who come to Aiken Technical College (ATC) with developmental education needs.
Developmental education, particularly math, is a major focus of Achieving the Dream strategies at ATC. One of these strategies, the Lecture/Lab Approach with Prescriptive Remediation, combines a developmental math lecture course with a weekly 3-hour lab assisted by classroom tutors.
According to 2005-2009 estimates by the American Community Survey, 13% of families and 16% of individuals in Aiken County live below poverty level, and 54% of individuals have attained a high school diploma or less. ATC enrolled 3,270 undergraduates in Fall 2009; 61% were white and 33% were African American.
ATC is a comprehensive institution of higher education established to provide opportunities for educational, economic, professional, social, and personal development. The college educates and trains students to provide an effective work force to support economic growth and community development through its focus on teaching and service.ATC’s strategies increase success for academically underprepared students by improving course delivery and advising.
The Advising Center is staffed by full-time academic advisors who meet regularly with incoming students who are non-program ready until they complete all developmental education courses.
New Student and Family Orientation is a large-scale orientation for new students and their friends and family members.
Developmental Education Faculty Learning Community is an opportunity for developmental education faculty to meet monthly to discuss pedagogy and issues related to student success.
Five Faculty Academies provide a college-wide, systematic program of faculty professional development to improve student learning and build consistent, high-quality instruction.
The Achieving the Dream Model
Achieving the Dream community colleges commit to our Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. Based on four principles, the model frames the overall work of helping more students, particularly low- income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree.
Each college approaches the work differently, but Achieving the Dream’s five-step process provides practical guidelines for keeping the focus where it belongs and building momentum over time. Throughout the process, Achieving the Dream coaches offer customized support and help each college’s core team implement data-informed programs and policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to student success.
Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges
Leader Colleges are demonstrating the power of the Achieving the Dream Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. They show us it is possible to raise persistence and graduation rates, close achievement gaps, and change lives. Leader Colleges embody the ultimate goal of Achieving the Dream, and as such, serve as mentors within our community of learners.
To be eligible for Leader College distinction, colleges must show three or more years of improvement on one or more of these five measures:
- Course completion
- Advancement from developmental to credit-bearing courses
- Completion of college-level math and English courses
- Term-to-term and year-to-year retention
- Completion of certificates or degrees
