RCC is pleased to announce that it has joined the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.
As one of nine institutions joining the organization as part of its 2025 cohort, RCC will enter into ATD’s Foundations of Transformation core engagement, an intensive three-year program designed to build essential institutional capacities and accelerate student success. Grounded in ATD’s Community Vibrancy Framework, the engagement will help the colleges strengthen critical capacities with the ultimate goal of supporting the transformation of these institutions as they seek to become inclusive, equitable hubs of economic mobility and regional vitality.
“The RCC community is thrilled to join the Achieving the Dream Network,” said President Jonathan K. Jefferson. “At RCC, we transform lives through innovation, with a deep-rooted commitment to providing students with the knowledge, skills, and customized support required for success. We look forward to collaborating with like-minded community colleges to improve student outcomes.”
Teams from the cohort colleges will convene at ATD’s Kickoff Institute, an annual event to welcome incoming Network colleges, which will be held this year from June 25 to 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Kickoff will set the stage for the colleges’ partnerships with ATD and introduce them to the organization’s Institutional Capacity Framework, a comprehensive assessment built on essential capacities that help colleges develop a student-centered culture and enhance student success.
"We are honored to welcome these nine colleges into the ATD Network,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “By joining Foundations of Transformation, these institutions are taking an ambitious step to redesign systems, structures, and cultures to support their students more holistically. Their commitment signals not only a deep investment in student success but also in the long-term resilience and vibrancy of the communities they serve. ATD looks forward to walking alongside these colleges as they forge a bold path forward.”
