Achieving the Dream

"By developing clearer pathways, responding to students’ needs, and helping them to persevere, we assist students in changing their life stories with the help of Achieving the Dream."
~ Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont

In 2009 CCV joined Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national nonprofit that supports the work of community colleges across the country, helping 3.75 million students stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. In 2011 CCV became one of a select number of institutions recognized by ATD as a Leader College. The four principles of Achieving the Dream, which all Leader Colleges must exemplify, are: committed leadership, use of evidence to improve programs and services, broad engagement, and systemic institutional improvement. Today, the ATD organization includes nearly 200 colleges, 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams working throughout 32 states and the District of Columbia. For more information about ATD, go to http://www.achievingthedream.org/.

As an ATD school, CCV works to continuously improve both its academic and student support services. In particular:

New Student Support – Orientation and Advising Appointments

Every student at CCV is assigned an advisor. Advisors are knowledgeable about the College—the programs and courses we offer, where and how to find information, and which resources will best enable students to be successful. New students are required to meet with their advisors in order to provide them with the best start possible. New students must also attend orientation. In a recent survey of new students, 96% of respondents said that the information covered in orientation was crucial to surviving the first weeks of the semester!

Developmental Student Success

At CCV, students have a number of options for building their foundational knowledge in reading, writing and math. Right from their first appointment with a new student, advisors will guide them on how to best prepare for the Accuplacer assessment and choose the right courses to meet their educational goals. We are committed to helping students start college-level courses as soon as possible and as prepared as possible.

The First Semester Seminar: Dimensions Courses

The Dimensions course (Dimensions of Freedom or Dimensions of Work) is generally the first college-level course a student will take at CCV. It offers students a unique opportunity to discuss different perspectives on the world while developing the 21st century skills necessary for success in college and beyond. CCV’s data demonstrates that students who enroll in Dimensions are more apt to stay in college—and therefore, complete their degrees!

The Mentoring Program

Research in higher education has shown that students who are connected to and feel comfortable at an institution are more likely to graduate from there. In order to support the success of younger male students, CCV began a pilot program in 2011 in which student volunteers are assigned a faculty and/or staff mentor who can act as a sounding board, encourage academic success, and support them in achieving their career goals.

View CCV's Achieving the Dream profile.

Do you have questions about any of these success strategies? Contact Debby Stewart at stewartd@ccv.edu