Achieving the Dream (AtD) at San Antonio College

What is AtD?
Open access to higher education is a vital role of community colleges. Research shows that low income students and students of color are retained and attain degrees and certificates at significantly lower rates than white and Asian students. This achievement gap is a considerable challenge statewide and nationally.

“Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count” is a multi-year initiative funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education that addresses this challenge. All colleges of the Alamo Community College District are participating in this initiative to increase student success, particularly that of the underserved population. The identified student outcome indicators are the following:

1. Successful completion of remedial courses and progression to college-level courses
2. Enrollment and successful completion of college-level "gatekeeper" courses
3. Productive grades (C or higher) in all courses
4. Semester to semester persistence
5. Graduation

AtD Data Notes Date Document Sep-Oct 2008 All Schools Zero Credits & Persistence Jan-Feb 2008 Minority Males Jul-Aug 2008 Developmental Education Sep-Oct 2008 SAC Zero Credits & Persistence Mar-Apr 2008 Outcomes Across Age Groups

To increase student success, particularly that of the underserved population, San Antonio College is cultivating a culture of evidence and accountability. All San Antonio College stakeholders are essential to this effort. Two groups are charged with leading the process of analyzing data and guiding institutional change.

DATA AND REPORTS Date Document Description Aug. 2004 Gatekeeper Courses Analysis of grades and enrollment for selection of additional Achieving the Dream gatekeeper courses by college. Oct. 2004 Data Team Recommendations Joint sessions of District Data Team members from all colleges on October 28-29, 2004, concluded with the formulation of these recommendations presented to the District Core Team for discussion and approval. Oct. 2004 Faculty and Staff Input Summary report of the ACCD Employee Development Day designed to gather information from the faculty and staff. Oct. 2004 Student Input Summary report of student focus group discussions designed to gather information from the students' perspective. Oct. 2004 Institutional Policy and Practice Inventory Inventory of key College policies and practices reviewed in terms of AtD goals. Oct. 2004 Intervention Program Data Response Report Inventory of programs and services that may impact the targeted population. Oct. 2004 A First Look at SAC 2003 CCSSE Results A First Look at SAC 2003 CCSSE Results Powerpoint presentation of SAC 2003 CCSSE results. Oct. 2004 Guiding Questions Preliminary analysis of fall 2002 and fall 2003 student cohort data. Nov. 2004 Student Outcomes   In-depth study of JBL cohort data emphasizing demographics, gatekeeper courses, developmental courses, and persistence presented in graphic format. Nov. 2004 Data Team Analysis and Findings Data Team report to Core Team based on analysis of faculty and staff input, student input, institutional policies and practices, intervention strategies, fall 2002 and fall 2003 cohort data results and CCSSE results. Dec.2004 SAC Presentation at the AtD Retreat SAC Presentation at the AtD Retreat Powerpoint presentation resulting from the Retreat's consensus-building session. It summarizes SAC's findings and top strategies for impact on the targeted groups. Jan. 2005 AtD Strategy Institute Brief   A handout to initiate group discussion sessions at the Strategy Institute (January 23-25, 2005, Tampa, Florida) on student success and gap findings, progress achieved in building a culture of evidence, and how decisions are being made about Achieving the Dream priorities at San Antonio College. Jan. 2005 Strategies Institute Table discussion documentation from the Strategy Institute in Tampa, Florida (January 23-25, 2005). Jan. 2005 SAC Data and Core Team Final Recommendations Recommendations from SAC Data and Core teams to the District Data and Core Team. April 2005 AtD Research Briefs SAC's AtD performance reports focusing on the status and progress of first-time-in-college student cohorts in developmental (remedial) courses, gatekeeper courses, persistence, graduation and 2003 CCSSE results. The Research Briefs will be used by the four schools and the District as tools to inform and engage the public and community-at-large about Achieving the Dream goals. May 2005 Term Fall 2004 Cohort Charts Demographic Fall 2004 Cohort Charts Comparision of Term Fall 2004 Cohort Charts Comparison of Demographic Fall 2004 Cohort Charts JBL fall 2004 cohort term summary and student general record summary data. Aug. 2005 Jun. 2007 Cohort Tracking - August 2005 Cohort Tracking - June 2007 JBL cohort tracking reports focusing on first-time-in-college students for fall 2002 through fall 2005.