Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping community colleges’ low-income students and students of color, stay in school, announced today that West Los Angeles College earned Leader College distinction.
This national designation is awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps.
Achieving the Dream said that West has shown how data can inform policy and practice to help students achieve their goals, resulting in improved skills, better employability, and economic growth for families and communities.
“We are proud to be honored in this way,” said interim president Robert Sprague. “More importantly, we are pleased to see that steps we are taking are making a difference for students.”
West’s Fall to Fall student persistence rose more than 5 percent between 2010 and 2013. The data shows West is decreasing the gaps in persistence between black, Latino and low-income students and the persistence of white and Asian students. The Fall to Fall persistence for African American students rose 10 percent from Fall 2010 to Fall 2013.
“Becoming a Leader College affirms the exceptional work and commitment of faculty and staff to their students’ success,” said Cindy Lenhart, an Achieving the Dream vice president. “West is using evidence to make informed decisions that lead to significant institutional change.”
Contributing factors to the gains in persistence include using the Achieving the Dream framework and making progress on West L. A. College’s established intervention strategies of enhanced communication with students, professional development, and enhanced tutoring.
Achieving the Dream is closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success nationwide by: 1) guiding evidence-based institutional improvement, 2) leading policy change, 3) generating knowledge, and 4) engaging the public.
Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, Achieving the Dream is leading the most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education history. With 200 institutions, 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams – working throughout 35 states and the District of Columbia – the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network helps more than 4 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams.
Ms. Long-Coffee may be contacted at longcofm@wlac.edu