SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND (June 16, 2025) — Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility, announced today that nine community colleges — including a consortium of four State University of New York (SUNY) institutions — have joined the ATD Network as part of its 2025 cohort.
These colleges will engage in ATD’s Foundations of Transformation, an intensive three-year program designed to build essential institutional capacities and accelerate student success. Grounded in ATD’s Community Vibrancy Framework, the engagement will help colleges strengthen critical capacities with the ultimate goal of supporting the transformation of these colleges as they seek to become inclusive, equitable hubs of economic mobility and regional vitality.
“We are honored to welcome these nine colleges into the ATD Network,” said Dr Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “By joining Foundations of Transformation, these institutions are taking an ambitious step to redesign systems, structures, and cultures to support their students more holistically. Their commitment signals not only a deep investment in student success but also in the long-term resilience and vibrancy of the communities they serve. ATD looks forward to walking alongside these colleges as they forge a bold path forward.”
The colleges in the 2025 Network cohort are as follows:
- Community College of Rhode Island
- Kalamazoo Valley Community College (Michigan)
- Ocean County College (New Jersey)
- Rappahannock Community College (Virginia)
- Roxbury Community College (Massachusetts)
SUNY Colleges joining the Network:
- Jefferson Community College
- North Country Community College
- SUNY Broome Community College
- Tompkins Cortland Community College
All nine institutions will attend ATD’s Kickoff Institute, held this year from June 25 to 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This annual event will serve as the official launch point for these new Network colleges, offering an introduction to ATD’s Institutional Capacity Framework 2.0, a comprehensive assessment built on seven essential capacities essential to driving equitable student success.
By joining the ATD Network, these institutions join a dynamic peer-learning community — engaging with experienced colleges across the country that are deeply committed to transforming student outcomes and institutional effectiveness.
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country.
Drawing on expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, the organization provides institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work — from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K–12 partnerships, and more. ATD calls this Whole College Transformation. Its vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable and economically-vibrant communities. ATD knows that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access, completion rates, and employment outcomes — so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers. Follow ATD on X (Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn.
To learn more, visit the Achieving the Dream (ATD) website: achievingthedream.org.
