Press Release - Achieving the Dream August 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 2, 2006
San Jacinto College among 10 institutions chosen from greater Houston area
HOUSTON, TX – San Jacinto College has been selected as one of ten higher education institutions in the greater Houston area to join Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, a national initiative to help more community college students succeed. San Jacinto College will receive direct financial support from Houston Endowment Inc. and assistance from national experts to devise strategies for students — particularly under-represented and under-privileged students ¬¬# earning degrees, completing certificates or transferring to other institutions to continue their studies.
Houston Endowment Inc. has awarded San Jacinto College a $50,000 grant to plan and launch the Achieving the Dream initiative on its campuses. The college will apply next year for an implementation grant worth up to $400,000 over four years. Overall, Houston Endowment has committed $9 million toward a unified effort to increase college student success in the greater Houston area.
“At San Jacinto College, student success is the reason for our being,” noted Chancellor Bill Lindemann. “We are privileged to be a part of this initiative and are very grateful to The Houston Endowment for the funds which will help San Jac ensure student success.”
San Jacinto College is among 23 institutions nationwide joining Achieving the Dream as part of the initiative’s latest expansion. They join 35 colleges in seven states # including two colleges in the Houston area # already participating, bringing the total number of Achieving the Dream colleges to 58 in nine states. More information about Achieving the Dream, including a full list of participants, can be found online at www.achievingthedream.org.
“These institutions play an increasingly important role in providing access to higher education for the growing number of first-generation and non-traditional students in the greater Houston area,” said Houston Endowment Grant Officer, George Grainger. “The leadership at each of these colleges and universities is committed to a guiding principle of Achieving the Dream: providing all students the opportunity to reach their educational and workforce development goals, while maintaining their uniquely important role of affording opportunity through open access. Houston Endowment is pleased to have the opportunity to join Lumina Foundation for Education and others in this important national movement, and we are particularly excited in being able to assist so many terrific Houston-area institutions in a unified effort to improve college student outcomes across the greater Houston area.”
In addition to support from Houston Endowment, additional funding for this latest group of schools is being provided by The Heinz Endowments for seven colleges in Pennsylvania and by College Spark Washington for six colleges in Washington state. Start-up funding for Achieving the Dream was provided by Lumina Foundation for Education, which continues to provide funding for the 27 community colleges included in the initiative’s initial launch in 2004 as well as for other elements of the initiative’s work. A second round of colleges joined in 2005 with funding from KnowledgeWorks Foundation and Nellie Mae Education Foundation.
Participating institutions identify strategies to help more students continue their studies and earn certificates and degrees. Strategies include increasing focus on developmental education to better prepare students who may not be ready for college-level work; increasing student engagement through instructional techniques such as collaborative learning, paired classes and learning communities; and implementing student success courses to teach skills such as time management and effective study skills.
Achieving the Dream is a multiyear initiative that focuses on measurable outcomes and emphasizes the use of data to inform decision-making. In addition to funding, participating colleges receive a range of support from the initiative’s partner organizations. Each college works closely with an Achieving the Dream coach, many of whom are former college presidents, and a data facilitator who provides hands-on help with the use of data.
Other partner organizations providing support to the initiative are the American Association of Community Colleges; the Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas-Austin; the Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University; Institute for Higher Education at the University of Florida; Jobs for the Future; MDC; MDRC; and Public Agenda.
About Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count is a national initiative to assist community college students — particularly students of color and low-income students —to succeed in college. The initiative works on multiple fronts — including efforts at community colleges and in research, public engagement and public policy — and emphasizes the use of data to drive change.
About Houston Endowment Inc.
Houston Endowment improves the life for the people of the greater Houston area though its contributions to charitable organizations and educational institutions. Mr. and Mrs. Jesse H. Jones established Houston Endowment on September 25, 1937, with a broad mandate that has enabled the Foundation to respond throughout the years to ever-changing needs of the communities it serves. Since inception, the Foundation has distributed over $1 billion to charitable organizations in Houston and beyond.
For more information: Teri Fowle, (281) 991-2633, teri.fowle@sanjac.edu
