Montgomery College has been selected to participate in the national initiative Achieving the Dream (ATD). ATD is a national reform movement committed to systemic change in the nation’s community colleges, with the ultimate objective of increasing student success and completion, especially among disadvantaged students.
In the last decade, ATD has served more than 215 institutions in 35 states and the District of Columbia.
“ATD’s standards for acceptance are very high,” explained Dr. DeRionne Pollard, president of Montgomery College. “Our acceptance says a lot about the depth of our commitment to student achievement and the quality of the programs we have.”
Guided by a collegewide strategic plan that sets benchmarks for student success regardless of race, ethnicity, or skills upon entry, Montgomery College is engaged in many initiatives that support the national and state completion , including Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES), a collaboration among Montgomery County Public Schools, the Universities at Shady Grove and Montgomery College, to support students and provide a seamless path from high school to a bachelor’s degree.
Montgomery College and ATD share an ultimate goal of increasing students’ persistence and completion rates. Achieving the Dream, using the collective expertise and resources of its network of more than 200 colleges, 100 advisors, and state policy teams, is based on a practitioner-and-researched-informed theory of institutional improvement.
To be accepted, participants must demonstrate an institution-wide commitment to take bold action to enhance the student experience with the goal of increasing student outcomes. The three-year minimum commitment begins with an official kickoff event in June.