LAS VEGAS (April 27, 2012) – The nation’s most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education has selected CSN to join its national reform network, CSN President Dr. Michael Richards announced today.
CSN joins an elite group of colleges in June as part of Achieving the Dream and will begin immediately to identify strategies to close achievement gaps and increase student retention, persistence, and completion rates.
“As an Achieving the Dream institution, we will have access to the best practices in the nation, coaches and data analysts that will help our students succeed and improve opportunities for the entire state,” Richards said. “With the help of the Achieving the Dream, we will go farther, faster than we ever could on our own.”
As an Achieving the Dream institution, CSN will develop and implement research-based policies and practices based on quantitative and qualitative analyses of its institutional strengths, problem areas, and achievement gaps. CSN is committed to assessing the effectiveness of these policies and practices, institutionalizing the approaches that prove successful, and sharing the findings widely.
Through Achieving the Dream, CSN will have the opportunity to learn from other Achieving the Dream institutions and receive assistance from experienced practitioners in building a culture of evidence campus-wide, using data to identify problems, setting priorities, and measuring progress toward increasing student success.
“The work of closing achievement gaps and improving student success is extremely difficult and critically important,” said Beverly Fletcher, Senior Director of Organizational Development and Change for Achieving the Dream. “Being an Achieving the Dream institution takes courage, discipline, and a tenacious institution-wide commitment to student success and equity. CSN should be applauded for helping tackle one of society’s most daunting challenges: success for more college students.”
The Achieving the Dream Model
Each college commits to the Achieving the Dream Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement. Based on four principles, the Model frames the overall work of helping more students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Each college will approach the work differently, but Achieving the Dream’s five-step process will provide practical guidelines for helping keep the focus where it belongs and building momentum over time. Throughout the process, Achieving the Dream Coaches will offer customized support and help each college’s core team implement data-informed programs and policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to student success. Learn more about the Model here.
Achieving the Dream is a national nonprofit leading the nation’s most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for student success in higher education history. The Achieving the Dream National Reform Network, including nearly 200 institutions, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams – working throughout 32 states and the District of Columbia – helps 3.75 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams.
About CSN: Founded in 1971, the College of Southern Nevada (csn.edu) is the state’s largest and most ethnically diverse higher education institution. CSN offers more than 200 degree and certificate options in more than 130 areas of study, including 30 degree and certificate programs available entirely online. Students create flexible, personalized schedules, including day, evening, and weekend classes taught on three main campuses and multiple locations throughout Southern Nevada. CSN — Your future starts here.
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