Community College of the District of Columbia
The college leadership wants the Community College of the District of Columbia to meet or surpass the national average graduation rate for community colleges.
With Achieving the Dream, the college will:
- Improve college readiness through Accuplacer preparation, testing, and interventions to ensure students are placed in the appropriate course levels from the onset of their education at CCDC
- Increase student success in developmental math courses via student focus groups and surveys, professional development for faculty, and teaching the Statway method in developmental math
- Test and implement a new first-year seminar course called Learning Frameworks, which is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to be active and successful learners
- Build the institutional research capacity necessary to produce, analyze, and use disaggregated data for evaluating all programs
- Engage faculty and staff in student success efforts and data-informed decision-making
During its first year of operation, CCDC's Student Success Center implemented an Early Alert System that identifies academically at-risk students and connects them with support services. A college task force is reviewing every aspect of the college's developmental education program. Efforts are also underway to link academic and workforce development programs for effective career pathways that provide students with credentials and employment.
The Community College of the District of Columbia (CCDC) became the first public community college in the nation's capital when it opened its doors to 1,779 students in August 2009. Enrollment grew to 2,300 students in the second semester and more than half of the second semester students were new students. In Fall 2010, enrollment increased once again, to 2,670. The college, which is part of the University System of the District of Columbia, offers 21 associate degree and three certificate programs, as well as 22 workforce, career and technical programs. Forty-three percent of the college's Fall 2010 students were students of color, although more than 50% of students did not identify their racial or ethnic background upon enrollment so the actual number of students of color is not known.
The lack of college preparation among DC residents means that many students require intensive support systems to succeed in college. The Brookings Institute reported in 2009 that almost 20% of DC residents function at the lowest levels of literacy and 36% have no education beyond high school. More than 80% of entering students require developmental education. The college is working with DC public high schools and community-based organizations to conduct early assessments, offer interventions for students who need them, and provide dual enrollment programs for students who qualify for them.
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.
