Achieving the Dream names EvCC a national leader in student success
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Contact: Katherine Schiffner, Director of Public Relations, 425-388-9554; kschiffner@everettcc.edu
EVERETT, Wash. – Achieving the Dream has named Everett Community College as a Leader College of Distinction for the second time, recognizing the college for sustained and significant outcomes in the advancement of student success and for narrowing equity gaps.
EvCC is one of only 32 community and technical colleges nationwide to earn the honor. The college is one of two Leader Colleges of Distinction in Washington state. The other is Pierce College, the former home of EvCC’s incoming interim president, Darrell L. Cain.
“I chose Everett Community College because students’ success is at the core of EvCC instruction, programs and services. I am excited to lead a college with a demonstrated commitment to excellence and equity,” Cain said.
Achieving the Dream is a national nonprofit dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. EvCC has partnered with Achieving the Dream since 2011.
EvCC was recognized for improving English and math completion, increasing Fall-to-Fall quarter retention and closing equity gaps for Black students, Hispanic students, older students and students with children. EvCC also increased the number of students who transferred to four-year schools and earned bachelor’s degrees within six years.
In the past two years, students have faced increasing challenges due to the pandemic that led to a decline in the average number of credits individual students are taking each quarter and the number of students completing a credential within four years.
“Recognition from Achieving the Dream is especially meaningful because they ground their decisions to award Leader College of Distinction Status in disaggregated student success data,” said EvCC Vice President of Instruction Cathy Leaker. “Even more importantly, as Achieving the Dream shifts its focus from credential completion to equitable economic mobility, EvCC will have an active thought partner as we embrace their new challenge to be the engine for social justice, prosperity and economic vitality in our communities”
Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges of Distinction kept their focus on student success throughout the pandemic, said Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream.
“In the past two years, we have seen extraordinary resilience and innovation from our nation’s community colleges as they have worked to support their students during a continuing pandemic and to increase equity, access and inclusion on their campuses. The institutions certified as ATD Leader Colleges of Distinction have not only demonstrated that they have risen to recent challenges, but have shown that their long-term efforts to center equity and increase student success have resulted in remarkable outcomes for their communities,” Stout said.
The 2022 cohort of Leader Colleges of Distinction are:
- Anne Arundel Community College (MD)
- Davidson-Davie Community College (NC)
- Elgin Community College (IL)
- Texarkana College (TX)
- Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (AR)
- Tallahassee Community College (winner of the 2022 Leah Meyer Austin Award) (FL)
In addition, 15 colleges recertified their Leader College of Distinction status:
- Amarillo College (TX)
- Bay College (MI)
- College of Southern Nevada (NV)
- Cuyahoga Community College (OH)
- Everett Community College (WA)
- Grayson College (Special Recognition awardee) (TX)
- Kingsborough Community College (NY)
- Lee College (TX)
- Lorain County Community College (OH)
- North Central State College (Special Recognition awardee) (OH)
- Passaic County Community College (NJ)
- Pierce College (WA)
- Porterville College (CA)
- Roane State Community College (TN)
- Sinclair Community College (OH)
About Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction Award
ATD created the Leader College of Distinction award in 2018 to recognize colleges that have pursued and met challenging student success goals, often earning Leader College status several times. Leader Colleges of Distinction must show improvement in three or more student outcome metrics, including at least one lagging indicator such as completion or transfer with an earned baccalaureate. Leader Colleges of Distinction are also required to show they have reduced equity gaps in at least two metrics for at least two student groups. These requirements recognize and motivate sustained and proactive reform efforts that result in greater improvements in student success and equity.