Tri-C Honored for Excellence in Student Success

Achieving the Dream awards Tri-C ‘Leader College of Distinction’ status

Achieving the Dream (ATD) today announced that Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) has earned Leader College of Distinction status for achieving higher student outcomes and narrowing equity gaps.

Tri-C is one of only 11 community colleges across the nation to receive the award, which recognizes colleges that excelled while striving to meet challenging student success goals.

“The metrics ATD established for Leader College of Distinction are meant to encourage colleges to sustain aggressive efforts that result in far greater student success and equity,” said Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “The honor recognizes Network colleges that have stayed focused on the change process and seen real improvements in student achievement across the institution.”

Tri-C is dedicated to narrowing the achievement gap for all students while closing equity gaps for specific groups, such as African Americans, first-generation students and veterans.

Programs developed over the past several years put renewed focus on student success and degree completion. The initiatives brought immediate results and increased graduation rates to historic highs.

“As a Leader College of Distinction, Tri-C will continue its work to improve success rates for all students — both here and at community colleges across the country,” College President Alex Johnson said. “Our work is just beginning.”

Leader Colleges of Distinction will have their own identity as part of the ATD Network and receive priority to participate in ATD’s innovation initiatives. They will be asked to present and facilitate more sessions at ATD events and institutes and to serve as mentor colleges.

About Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream (ATD) leads a growing network of more than 220 community colleges committed to helping their students, particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth, and economic opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing academic achievement gaps and accelerating student success through a unique change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities in seven essential areas. ATD, along with nearly 75 experienced coaches and advisors, works closely with Network colleges in 41 states and the District of Columbia to reach more than 4 million community college students. 

February 20, 2019

John Horton, 216-987-4281 john.horton@tri-c.edu