Jefferson Community Technical College Leading the Way

Achieving the Dream awards JCTC Leader College status for commitment to data-informed decision-making and student success.

Jefferson Community and Technical College was selected for the 2014 cohort of Achieving the Dream Leader Colleges. Leader College status is a national designation awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps.

This is a major milestone in the College's third year of immersion in Achieving the Dream said Dr. Tony Newberry, president and CEO of JCTC.

Jefferson became an Achieving the Dream college in 2011, after demonstrating a commitment to improving student retention and graduation rates. In-depth research led to the identification of student barriers and the development of interventions to help students overcome those barriers. Achieving the Dream works with colleges in this process.

Following an extensive review of specified practice and performance activities by Achieving the Dream, Jefferson was chosen as a Leader College for demonstrated success of its new mandatory orientation program for students attending the college for the first time and a comprehensive first-year experience course that acclimates students to college and gives them skills to manage college effectively.

Jefferson has already seen statistically significant gains in retention of first time students.

Both orientation and the first year experience course are central to our overall retention effort, Dr. Newberry said. These early results bode well for the effectiveness of all Achieving the Dream initiatives moving forward.

Jefferson is one of 16 community colleges nationwide selected for the 2014 Leader College cohort. Achieving the Dream grants Leader College designation for three-year cycles. After three years, institutions must undergo a recertification process to maintain Leader College status.

Since 2009, Achieving the Dream has granted Leader College status to only a total of 79 active Achieving the Dream Institutions.