Achieving the Dream (ATD) has selected five City Colleges of Chicago for a new initiative that seeks to help students achieve success.
According to a press release from City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), five CCC institutions were among the 10 campuses from four states selected for Achieving the Dream's new three-year Accelerating Equitable Outcomes initiative. The program seeks to increase equity and outcomes for all students, especially those from low-income families and black, Latinx, Indigenous and students of color and help bridge the gap between underserved populations and access to opportunities for economic and social mobility. To that end, the program will focus on implementing strategies to help students earn postsecondary credentials such as occupational certificates and degrees.
To be eligible to apply for the cohort, institutions must serve a minimum of 45% black, Latinx, Indigenous and students of color, as well as 20% Pell-eligible students. All five of Chicago's eligible institutions, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harold Washington College and Wilbur Wright College, were chosen, according to City Colleges of Chicago.
"It was a clean sweep for City Colleges of Chicago," City Colleges of Chicago chancellor Juan Salgado said, according to the press release. "That all of our eligible institutions were selected speaks volumes about our laser focus on increasing equitable outcomes for the students we serve. With the support of ATD and its coaches, our colleges can further strengthen our comprehensive strategies for improving student success and closing equity gaps."
According to City Colleges of Chicago, ATD works with and supports over 300 community institutions around the country and provides them with integrated, customized support and resources for every aspect of their work. The national network consists of expert coaches and groundbreaking programs in areas such as leadership, data and equity to implement strategies for supporting students and building K-12 partnerships and more.
“Achieving the Dream colleges are distinct: They choose transformation over tradition, curiosity over inaction and innovation over the status quo,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream, according to the press release. “The effort will help 10 more colleges meet their student success goals, transform their institutions and normalize opportunities for racially minoritized students to make their way into lucrative careers that contribute to community economic growth.”