NATIONAL HARBOR, Md., Feb. 22,
2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Northern Virginia Community
College (NOVA) received recognition as a 'Leader College of
Distinction' from the Achieving the Dream (ATD) national network.
Each year ATD honors outstanding achievement of their network
colleges through awards and recognition. Being designated as a
Leader College of Distinction elevates NOVA's status within the
national network.
Since joining ATD in 2007, NOVA has addressed barriers to
student success through initiatives designed to help students from
the time they first begin their college career through their
academic journey. Due to its innovative approaches, NOVA earned the
Leader College designation in 2010 after demonstrating a
significant increase in student success metrics. Additionally, NOVA
became a leader among peer institutions through sharing its
experiences and strategies, contributing to the ATD's national
network.
NOVA's award recognition letter indicated that the College
demonstrated significant gains for Black students in persistence
and Hispanic students' completion of gateway math courses.
Additionally, the College has increased the rate of students
transferring to 4-year institutions. Earning this national
recognition highlights the hard work and dedication of the college
to the success of our students. "Community colleges provide the
on-ramps for students who may have never thought a chance at higher
education was possible. Achieving the Dream helps colleges like
NOVA to ensure that every student achieves, every program succeeds
and every community prospers. NOVA is honored to be recognized as
the recipient for the 'Leader College of Distinction' Award," said
Dr. Anne Kress, President of
Northern Virginia Community
College.
Only colleges that have been Leader Colleges for three or more
years were eligible to apply for this status. In addition, the
increased visibility should help accelerate the adoption of
effective practices across the Network institutions and the
community college field as a whole. NOVA joins other top community
colleges in earning the distinction this year:
- Alamo Colleges District (TX) 2020 Leah
Meyer Austin award winner
- Austin Community College District
(TX)
- Brazosport College (TX)
- Columbus State Community College (OH)
2019 Leah Meyer Austin award winner
- Grayson College (TX)
- Harper College (IL) 2016 Leah Meyer
Austin award winner
- Montgomery County Community College
(PA) 2014 Leah Meyer Austin award winner
- Porterville Community College (CA)
- San Jacinto College (TX)
- West Hills College Lemoore (CA)
"Accelerating improvement in student success outcomes is
difficult work and requires a sustained commitment from the entire
college community. Small but national recognitions like this one
are important for affirming and applauding the often unsung and
behind the scenes work of these institutions," said Dr.
Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of
Achieving the Dream.
Northern Virginia Community College
is the largest institution of higher education in the Commonwealth
of Virginia and one of America's
largest community colleges. NOVA enrolls more than 75,000 students
at its six campuses in Alexandria,
Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, Springfield and Woodbridge, and through NOVA Online. For more
information about NOVA and its programs or services, call
703-323-3000 or visit the College's website,
http://www.nvcc.edu.
About Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream (ATD) leads a growing network of 277
community colleges committed to helping their students,
particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve
their goals for academic success, personal growth, and economic
opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing academic achievement
gaps and accelerating student success through a unique change
process that builds each college's institutional capacities in
seven essential areas. ATD, along with 75 experienced coaches and
advisors, works closely with Network colleges in 44 states and the
District of Columbia. For more
information, visit ATD's website
https://www.achievingthedream.org/
SOURCE Northern Virginia Community
College