Founded in 2004, Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a nonprofit organization which aims to close achievement gaps and accelerate learner success nationwide by guiding community college change, influencing public policy, and engaging the public. ATD is a network which serves more than 300 colleges in 44 states.

Services focus on four main areas:

• Whole College Transformation – Providing institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work, from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K-12 partnerships, and more. Whole College Transformation consists of two core programs: Foundations of Transformation and Services
• Innovation & Advocacy – Moving the field forward by exploring new solutions, advocating for policies and practices within its network and with policymakers, developing leaders in the field, and cultivating partnerships with others.
• Network – Colleges benefit from the collective learning of the national ATD Network of institutions and partners, as well as from ATD's extensive years of experience innovating and anticipating future needs and issues in the face of continual change.
• Insights – While each institution is unique, it’s critical to learn from each other’s challenges and successes. Applicable, field-tested resources can help augment a college's transformation path to success.

ATD's areas of expertise include:

• Data Empowerment
• Equity
• Holistic Student Supports
• Dual Enrollment
• Leadership
• Organizational Redesign
• Teaching & Learning

ATD facilitates networking events, in-person and virtual convenings, and webinars. The organization also provides coaching services to individual community colleges.  ATD hosts an annual conference of thousands of practitioners from over 300 colleges that exchange evidence-based strategies to drive access, momentum, mobility, and community impact.

Resources

Foundations of Transformation

Services

Network