Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) was recognized as a leader in the national student completion movement by Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit leading the nation’s most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for community college student success and completion. CPCC, one of 14 institutions designated as a 2012 Leader College, was recognized for demonstrating sustained improvement and accomplishments on key student achievement indicators, including student persistence and completion. The 14 new Leader Colleges are:
· Bay College (Escanaba, MI)
· Central Piedmont Community College (Charlotte, NC)
· Community College of Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD)
· College of the Ouachitas (Malvern, AR)
· Davidson County Community College (Lexington, NC)
· Elgin Community College (Elgin, IL)
· Greenville Technical College (Greenville, SC)
· Lone Star College System (The Woodlands, TX)
· National Park Community College (Hot Springs, AR)
· Springfield Technical Community College (Springfield, MA)
· Temple College (Temple, TX)
· Texarkana College (Texarkana, TX)
· Trident Technical College (North Charleston, SC)
· University of Hawai’i Community Colleges (Honolulu, HI)*
“CPCC is committed to creating an engaged college that is focused on student success and completion,” said Dr. Tony Zeiss, president of CPCC. “Our many departments work together each day to implement and create innovative strategies, initiatives and interventions that have produced and sustained improved student success across all areas of the College.”
Leader Colleges are demonstrating the power of the Achieving the Dream Student-Centered Model of Institutional Improvement by raising persistence and graduation rates and closing achievement gaps. Each college approaches the work differently, but with the guidance of the model and Achieving theDream Coaches, colleges implement data-informed programs and policies that build long-term, institution-wide commitment to student success. Examples include: college readiness programs, mandatory new student orientation, student success courses, developmental course redesign, curriculum redesign, and intensive and individualized advising.
“We are proud of CPCC for earning this respected distinction,” said Rachel Singer, Achieving the Dream Vice President for Community College Relations and Applied Research. CPCC has raised the bar on promising practices that will impact policies to help more students succeed. They deserve recognition for their dedication to the student success movement.” In order to be eligible for Leader College distinction, colleges must demonstrate commitment to and progress on the principles and values of Achieving the Dream: committed leadership, use of evidence to improve programs and services, broad engagement, and systemic institutional improvement all guided by a student-centered vision focused on equity and excellence. Additionally, each Leader College has successfully implemented at least one student success intervention that is advancing student outcomes.
These colleges have identified workable solutions to issues such as enhancing the experience of first-year students, improving developmental education, closing achievement gaps, strengthening academic and personal advising for students in need of additional support, strengthening links to high schools and four-year institutions to strengthen student preparation and advancement, and increasing retention, persistence rates, and the number of certificate and degree recipients. To learn more about LeaderColleges, visit www.achievingthedream.org/get_involved/leader_colleges.
Achieving the Dream, Inc.
Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit that is dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Evidence-based, student-centered, and built on the values of equity and excellence, Achieving the Dream is closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success nationwide by: 1) guiding evidence-based institutional improvement, 2) leading policy change, 3) generating knowledge, and 4) engaging the public. Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, today, Achieving the Dream is leading the most comprehensivenon-governmental reform network for student success and completion in higher education history. With nearly 200 colleges, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams – working throughout 32 states and the District of Columbia – the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network helps 3.75 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams. To learn more, visit www.AchievingtheDream.org. Central Piedmont Community College Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering nearly 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporatetraining, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational andtraining strategies. 
“We are proud of CPCC for earning this respected distinction,” said Rachel Singer, Achieving the Dream Vice President for Community College Relations and Applied Research. CPCC has raised the bar on promising practices that will impact policies to help more students succeed. They deserve recognition for their dedication to the student success movement.” In order to be eligible for Leader College distinction, colleges must demonstrate commitment to and progress on the principles and values of Achieving the Dream: committed leadership, use of evidence to improve programs and services, broad engagement, and systemic institutional improvement all guided by a student-centered vision focused on equity and excellence. Additionally, each Leader College has successfully implemented at least one student success intervention that is advancing student outcomes.
These colleges have identified workable solutions to issues such as enhancing the experience of first-year students, improving developmental education, closing achievement gaps, strengthening academic and personal advising for students in need of additional support, strengthening links to high schools and four-year institutions to strengthen student preparation and advancement, and increasing retention, persistence rates, and the number of certificate and degree recipients. To learn more about LeaderColleges, visit www.achievingthedream.org/get_involved/leader_colleges.
Achieving the Dream, Inc.
Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit that is dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree. Evidence-based, student-centered, and built on the values of equity and excellence, Achieving the Dream is closing achievement gaps and accelerating student success nationwide by: 1) guiding evidence-based institutional improvement, 2) leading policy change, 3) generating knowledge, and 4) engaging the public. Conceived as an initiative in 2004 by Lumina Foundation and seven founding partner organizations, today, Achieving the Dream is leading the most comprehensivenon-governmental reform network for student success and completion in higher education history. With nearly 200 colleges, more than 100 coaches and advisors, and 15 state policy teams – working throughout 32 states and the District of Columbia – the Achieving the Dream National Reform Network helps 3.75 million community college students have a better chance of realizing greater economic opportunity and achieving their dreams. To learn more, visit www.AchievingtheDream.org. Central Piedmont Community College Central Piedmont Community College is the largest community college in North Carolina, offering nearly 300 degree and certification programs, customized corporatetraining, market-focused continuing education, and special interest classes. CPCC is academically, financially and geographically accessible to all citizens of Mecklenburg County. In 2002, the National Alliance of Business named CPCC the Community College of the Year for its response to the workforce and technology needs of local employers and job seekers through innovative educational andtraining strategies.
