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The Impetus behind Achieving the Dream: Despite their crucial role, community colleges face enormous challenges -- and these challenges take a toll on student success. Among students seeking an associate's degree or higher, only 53 percent earned a degree or transferred to a four-year institution within eight years of initial enrollment. The Process: º Gather data showing student completion rates, semester-to-semester retention rates and more. º Complete an audit of their current policies and practices to determine if they are helping or hindering students. º Seek input from their community leaders about specific needs the college can address. The Project's Unique Characteristics: º It has a strong emphasis on data. Were trying to make sure that everything that is done has evidence behind it, she says. º It is working to make changes at the state and national levels so that colleges are not hampered or limited by certain policies. º It is building public awareness of the important role community colleges have in higher education. It is developing a knowledge base of research on student success. It is fostering a long-term partnership among The Four Key Components of What We Know º Preparation º Awareness º Financial issues º Institutional responsibility Source: Lumina Foundation Achieving the Dream Back to VCCS Achieving the Dream Home Page |