News Release
October 24, 2005
AtD grants announced
Indianapolis — Lumina Foundation for Education announced today grant approvals totaling $28,874,137 to six organizations in support of their work with Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count. Achieving the Dream is a national initiative to help more community college students succeed — particularly students of color and low-income students.The Achieving the Dream partner organizations receiving the grants include:
- The American Association of Community Colleges in the amount of $4.4 million to coordinate convening, data collection, communication and outreach activities for the participating schools.
- The Community College Leadership Program at the University of Texas-Austin in the amount of $3.7 million to coordinate all leadership development activities and assist with analysis of institutional change.
- The Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University in the amount of $3.7 million to coordinate data and research activities for the initiative, benchmarking the progress of participating colleges, identifying barriers to student success, and maximizing lessons learned.
- Jobs for the Future (JFF) in the amount of $5.5 million to coordinate the state policy activities of the initiative.
- MDC, Inc. in the amount of $5.9 million to serve as the managing partner for the initiative.
- MDRC in the amount of $5.6 million to conduct a four-year evaluation of the primary outcomes of the initiative.
In addition to these grants, earlier this year, Lumina Foundation awarded $10.8 million to the 27 community colleges that joined Achieving the Dream in 2004, and $488,000 to Public Agenda, another partner organization involved in the initiative.
As the managing partner for Achieving the Dream, MDC, a North Carolina-based private nonprofit, is coordinating the initiative, which includes 10 national partner organizations.
“MDC is excited to be involved with this important work,” said MDC President David Dodson. “Fewer than half of community college students meet their educational goals, so it is imperative that we help more community college students succeed, for their sake as well as for the nation’s.”
Achieving the Dream is a multi-year initiative that focuses on measurable outcomes, particularly closing achievement gaps. Participating colleges are committed to using data to drive strategies, monitor progress and evaluate outcomes. They are committed to being open and forthright about current performance — and doing what it takes to improve it.
Achieving the Dream provides a range of support to the colleges. Each college works closely with an Achieving the Dream coach, many of whom are former college presidents and an Achieving the Dream data facilitator who provides hands-on help with the use of data in evaluating student progress.
Thirty-five community colleges in seven states are participating in Achieving the Dream, which, in addition to Lumina Foundation, is funded in part by KnowledgeWorks Foundation and Nellie Mae Education Foundation. More colleges may be added in 2006.
About Lumina Foundation
Lumina Foundation for Education, an Indianapolis-based, private, independent foundation, strives to help people achieve their potential by expanding access and success in education beyond high school. Through grants for research, innovation, communication, and evaluation, as well as policy education and leadership development, Lumina Foundation addresses issues that affect access and educational attainment among all students, particularly underserved student groups, including adult learners. The Foundation bases its mission on the belief that postsecondary education remains one of the most beneficial investments that individuals can make in themselves and that society can make in its people.
About Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count
Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count is a national initiative to increase the success of community college students, particularly those in groups that have been underserved in higher education.
Contact:
Dollyne Sherman
Director of Communication
Lumina Foundation for Education
317.951.5493
dsherman@luminafoundation.org
