Achieving the Dream (ATD)

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a network of 300 community colleges from across the nation that share a commitment to institutional transformation to increase the number of students who earn postsecondary credentials and access jobs with living-sustainable wages, benefits, and the potential for upward mobility. The ATD framework is built on the premise that institutional transformation is supported by identifying key opportunity areas where change is needed and building capacity across campus to manage the needed changes.  

In early spring 2023, ATD announced that Queensborough was one of only ten colleges selected nationally to participate in a three-year Accelerating Equitable Outcomes cohort. Membership provided the college with access to the ATD network and paired Queensborough with two dedicated coaches, who would support the college over a three-year commitment toward achieving its strategic goals.

To support this effort, Queensborough developed a cross-divisional team that serves as core leadership for the initiative. 

Following comprehensive assessment activities and analysis supported by our Achieving the Dream coaches, the college identified three priority projects that would advance the college's efforts to meet the Strategic Plan's equity-focused goals. 

Project 1: Develop a First-Year Experience

This initiative will guarantee that students are seamlessly connected with essential resources and support systems, setting a strong foundation for success from the outset of their academic journey. 

Project 2: Increase Pass Rates in Low Success Courses

Queensborough identified 15 courses with low success rates characterized by high rates of failure and withdrawal, and/or low rates of C grades or better. In response, groups of faculty and staff were convened to analyze these courses and evaluate the academic support provided. Their work focuses on developing and implementing meaningful changes designed to strengthen student success. 

Project 3: Integrate Career Advisement 

Students bring varying levels of understanding regarding career options, academic programs, and their interconnections. Queensborough conducted a comprehensive review of how we currently assist students in exploring career paths and choosing majors. Our aim is to redefine our student support framework, guiding them towards selecting majors that align with their interests at the earliest stages of their academic journey.

As part of its partnership with Achieving the Dream, Queensborough administered the Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT), an ATD signature activity designed to evaluate the college's strengths and identify areas where professional capacity can be enhanced. To complement the survey, the college also hosted an all-day Capacity Café, another ATD signature activity that engages the campus community in providing input on the ICAT findings.

Together, these two initiatives revealed four key areas where additional capacity is needed:

Capacity 1: Policies and Processes

Strengthen campus-wide understanding and application of policies to ensure consistency and effectiveness.

Capacity 2: Data and Technology

Develop a robust infrastructure for data governance and build capacity across campus to use and interpret data effectively.

Capacity 3: Communications

Improve the flow of communication to all constituencies while fostering an asset-based tone in messaging.

Capacity 4: Teaching and Learning

Advance student success by enhancing instructional practice and improving curricular coherence.

Fall 2025

• Hosted a joint site visit with the Achieving the Dream and Gardner Institute coaches to support alignment
• Convened Ethics and Integrity Policy Review Taskforce
• Academic department continued to develop strategies for improved program outcomes
• Continued developing an integration plan to embed career maps across 25 high-demand associate degree programs.

Spring 2025

• Hosted a joint site visit with the Achieving the Dream and Gardner Institute coaches to support alignment
• Implemented professional development plans for three of the four identified capacity areas
  • Reconvened the Data Governance Group
  • Refined plan for policy review
  • Academic departments reviewed curriculum maps and identified barriers to student persistence and completion
• Continued planning for embedding career maps into the student journey

Fall 2024

• Communicate alignment between the ATD priority areas and the Gardner Institute effort
• The Gardner Institute working groups begin developing a First-Year Experience and a plan for integrating career advisement during students' academic journey
• A faculty working group begins to evaluate the low success courses
• The ATD Core Leadership group develops a professional development plan to build the four identified capacities on campus

Spring 2024

• Host ATD coaches and engage community in a Capacity Cafe
• Host two ATD coaches for a second spring visit and plan years two and three
• A small cohort of Queensborough faculty, staff and administrators attend Dream 2024, ATD's annual conference
• Align ATD focal areas for change with efforts for new partnership with the Gardner Institute
• Identify four capacity areas that need to be developed on campus to facilitate change
  • The capacity areas are: Policies and Processes, Teaching and Learning, Data and Technology, and Communications

Fall 2023

• Hosted ATD coaches for campus event that engaged over 60 members of the Queensborough community and helped identify areas where change is needed
• Administered the ATD Institutional Capacity and Assessment Tool (ICAT)
• Identified focal areas for change for the three-year initiative
  • The focal areas are: First Year Experience, Integrated Career Advisement, and Low Success Courses

Spring 2023

• Selected for the Achieving the Dream inaugural Accelerating Equitable Outcomes cohort
• Core Leadership Group attended the Accelerating Equitable Outcomes Kickoff Institute