Morton College
Morton College is pursuing initiatives targeting student success by contemporaneously working to establish a true culture of evidence. The college has created a Student Success website, which is available to internal and external constituents, and is intended as a forum for them to share and communicate data.
A “Data Summit” led by Achieving the Dream coaches is planned for Fall 2011. The college’s priority is the creation of a true culture of evidence. Morton College has created two particular interventions to address achievement gaps and to improve student success. The two interventions are:
- Modular Math and
- College Student Skills Course (CSS)
Founded in 1924, Morton College is the second oldest community college in Illinois. In the fall of 2010 roughly 80% of the college’s students were students of color and/or represented ethnic minorities. The college has the largest enrollment percentage of Hispanic students in the Midwest—74% in 2010.
Over the decades, Morton College’s university transfer program has become known state-wide for academic excellence. The college’s curriculum and mission include career, community, continuing and adult education programs. The college opened its renovated, award-winning library in 2005 with triple the numbers of computers from its predecessor, wireless access, group study rooms and a cyber-café. Also, a new Student Success Center, which houses student services like tutoring, placement testing and career assistance opened in 2007.
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.
