Big Bend Earns Leader College Status from Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream (ATD) on Thursday announced that Big Bend Community College is one of eight community colleges in the ATD Network to have earned Leader College status, the organization’s highest designation awarded to institutions that have shown three years of steady improvement in two outcomes that measure student success.  This designation is reserved for an exceptional few colleges.

Leader Colleges are eligible to compete for all grant-funded learning initiatives and are encouraged to provide leadership and support to other colleges in the ATD Network, disseminate lessons learned, support state and national efforts to advance the student success agenda and continue to improve student outcomes.

“Being designated as a Leader College is a national honor that recognizes the high quality of teaching and learning occurring at Big Bend,” said BBCC President Terry Leas. “Our employees have worked very hard to earn this respected title.”

ATD leads a growing network of more than 220 community colleges committed to making progress closing academic achievement gaps and accelerating student success through a unique change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities in seven essential areas.  Achieving the Dream grants Leader College designation for three-year cycles. After three years, institutions must undergo a recertification process to maintain Leader College status.

“Becoming a Leader College requires an ATD Network college to have data that shows concrete progress toward building a student-centered culture that drives gains in student success,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “Colleges have to be willing to work differently to improve students’ educational journeys, and I’m proud to recognize the colleges that are living their commitment to change and are achieving stronger results.”

Others colleges recognized included Athens Technical College (GA), Community College of Allegheny County (PA), Edmonds Community College (WA), Housatonic Community College (CT), Stanly Community College (NC), Wallace State Community College (AL) and West Georgia Technical College (GA).