El Paso Community College
As El Paso Community College's (EPCC) enrollment grows, Achieving the Dream strategies are reducing the number of students who need developmental English and math, and are increasing enrollment and completion rates in gateway English and math courses.
Data-informed interventions help EPCC students prepare for college. Their influence can be seen in the greater proportions of students completing developmental and gateway courses.
While overall enrollment at EPCC grew from Fall 2003 to Fall 2009:
- Fewer first-time-in-college (FTIC) students required placements in all three developmental education areas: English, math, and reading
- More FTIC students needed just one developmental education course
- Fewer entering students are placing into developmental English and math
- A greater percentage of students completed developmental math
EPCC is building a college-going culture in an urban border area where 82% of residents are Hispanic, 27% are low-income; and 54% have a high school diploma or less education. The median household income in the community of more than 750,000 residents is $36,519.
The college’s Achieving the Dream core team first engaged EPCC’s faculty and the regional education community by publicly sharing data and encouraging collaboration. The College Readiness Initiative they developed united multiple college-preparation efforts. This initiative’s community outreach informs students, parents, teachers, counselors, and other stakeholders about the importance of EPCC’s placement tests. High schools now administer the tests to their students well ahead of graduation.
In addition to the College Readiness Initiative, EPCC uses four other Achieving the Dream strategies to increase both student success and college access.
The Summer Bridge Program offers intensive instruction in reading, writing, and math, as well as mentoring and tutoring for students placed in developmental courses.
Math Emporium computer software and “just-in-time” instruction help students in developmental math courses master mathematics concepts at their own pace.
The Pretesting Retesting Educational Preparation program's case management approach prepares students for entry assessments.
Six Early College High Schools accelerate the learning of diverse students who have not been previously identified as academic stars.
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
