Southeast among cohort to benefit from Achieving the Dream’s latest initiative
Inaugural cohort of seven colleges will focus on increasing equitable student success and aligning postsecondary pathways to sustainable careers
Cumberland — Achieving the Dream has announced the first cohort of colleges in its new Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work initiative, which aims to increase equitable student success by strengthening rural colleges’ capacity to prepare students for careers in today’s economy. The initiative is funded by the Cognizant U.S. Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co., The Community Focus Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation, Walmart.org, and Ascendium Education Group.
“Rural community colleges have long served as drivers of their communities’ economic and civic vitality, playing a critical role in ensuring social and economic mobility,” said ATD president and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout. “This initiative adds to ATD’s experience working with other rural colleges in our network as well as the nation’s tribal colleges and universities, offering new learning opportunities around the role of rural community colleges as workforce and economic development engines.”
Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work will increase rural colleges’ capacity to succeed with whole-college reform efforts, provide students with the workforce skills needed in today and tomorrow’s economy, and connect students with careers in the digital economy that pay family-sustaining wages. In addition, participating institutions’ reform efforts will include providing academic and personal supports and narrowing equity gaps.
In addition to Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, the colleges that have joined this initial cohort, and the ATD Network, include:
- Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA
- Clovis Community College – Clovis, NM
- Columbia-Greene Community College – Hudson, NY
- Halifax Community College – Weldon, NC
- Louisiana State University-Eunice – Eunice, LA
- Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
“We are happy to have been chosen to work with Achieving the Dream,” said Southeast President Vic Adams. “At Southeast, we understand that our success is in our partnerships, and we look forward to learning new ways to strengthen our existing relationships, build new ones, and offer our students increased opportunities in a changing economy.”
In January, members of the cohort participated in a Learning Launch Kickoff Institute to onboard to the program and to ATD. Earlier this week, the cohort was featured virtually at a Spotlight Session as part of DREAM 2021. Additionally, there will be a Rural Convening this summer, as well as ongoing coaching and capacity building for the colleges through ATD.
Learn more about Building Resiliency in Rural Communities for the Future of Work here.
