Lanier Tech joins group helping community college students succeed

Dutchess Community College (Poughkeeepsie, N.Y.)

Florida State College (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Montgomery College (Rockville, Md.)

Northcentral Technical College (Wausau, Wis.)

Schenectady Community College

Southwest Tennessee Community College (Memphis, Tenn.)

Suffolk County Community College (Selden, N.Y.)

SUNY Broome (Binghampton, N.Y.)

University of Hawaii-West Oahu (Kapolei, Hawaii)

Lanier Technical College is one of 12 community colleges across the country working on a national reform efforts to help students succeed.

The schools, located in eight states, are working with the nonprofit organization, Achieving the Dream, on ensuring more students finish college and have more employment opportunities once they graduate.

To reach the goal, the group of 12 colleges completes an assessment evaluating their strengths and weaknesses in seven areas, including teaching and learning, leadership and vision, and data and technology. Achieving the Dream will send coaches to each college to help shore up weak areas.

The 12 colleges will be the first cohort of schools in the new national reform network, and can apply to participate in other initiatives funded by Achieving the Dream, such as engaging adjunct faculty.

There were 7.3 million students enrolled in community colleges in fall 2014, the latest data from the American Association of Community Colleges.