College students who are parents or caregivers of dependent children make up more than one in five U.S. undergraduates. Colleges need basic information about the experiences and outcomes of the student parents they serve, since these students face distinct challenges, including high rates of economic insecurity and significant time and caregiving…

Washington has made some strides in recent years toward increasing awareness and state support of students' basic needs but has lacked state and regional information to drive larger-scale policies, programs, and investments to address the attainment barriers associated with basic needs insecurity. State and regional data on unmet basic needs can…

Over a two-year period, six colleges involved in the Working Students Success Network (WSSN) initiative received financial support and technical assistance from ATD to identify key financial challenges their students face, develop specific strategies to address those challenges, and provide feedback on lessons learned from the work to be shared…

The purpose of this ex post facto study was to determine differences in the level of student engagement in (a) students attending community colleges that participated in the Achieving the Dream (AtD) in 2011 and 2012 and (b) students attending community colleges that did not participate in AtD in 2011 and 2012. The Community College Survey of…

Concerns over the United States' global standing have spurred a national focus on improving postsecondary attainment. At the same time, many sectors of the economy find they have difficulty recruiting highly trained individuals to fill the good jobs that exist; jobs like nursing, respiratory care, dental hygiene, and various mid-level management…

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to improving outcomes among community college students, especially low-income students and students of color. A central ATD strategy is to promote a "culture of evidence," in which colleges collect, analyze, and make decisions based on information about students in…

Due to the decrease in public funding, community colleges are in a position where they need to generate private gifts. Alumni represent the largest untapped pool of prospective donors, and the success of alumni giving at 4-year institutions illustrates the potential that exists for community colleges. To develop effective fundraising strategies,…

Today's nationwide focus on college completion is central to both individual and societal success. For individuals, attaining a credential has become essential to earn a livable wage and support a family. In addition, as each person's educational attainment increases, so does his or her capacity to contribute to the economy, his or her community,…

Four studies on transfer students in Washington community colleges were conducted to determine whether community colleges play an important role in the achievement of the bachelor's degree and to learn at which points Washington community college students have difficulty in completing their education objectives. The studies included a bachelor's…

In 1990, a study was conducted of telecommunications in Washington State community colleges. The study focused on the quality of telecourses, current telecourse offerings, current and future plans for community college use of teleconferences, and innovations in telecommunications beyond telecourses. Data were gathered from four sources:…

In winter 1988, surveys were conducted at nine Washington community colleges to develop a profile of students in terms of employment status, educational objectives, family background, and prior educational attainment. Questionnaires were administered to 4,669 Washington community college students enrolled in state-supported academic and vocational…

A research project was conducted in fall 1984 to identify all developmental classes taught in Washington's community colleges and to collect enrollment and student data for the entire system. Study findings, based on responses from 23 colleges and information provided by the Washington State Board for Community College Education, included the…

A research project was conducted by the Council on Learning Assistance (CLAS) to gain a clearer understanding of the extent and nature of basic skills education in Washington's community colleges. During the study, course information and enrollment statistics for 1984-85 were solicited from CLAS representatives and deans of instruction in an…

Designed to answer those questions most frequently asked about the Washington Community Colleges by members of the legislature, state and external agencies, citizens, college administrators, faculty and students, this report presents data on enrollments, personnel, facilities, and finances for fall 1989 and the 1989-1990 academic year.…

Designed to answer those questions most frequently asked about the Washington Community Colleges by members of the legislature, state and external agencies, citizens, college administrators, faculty and students, this report presents data on enrollments, personnel, facilities, and finances for fall 1987 and the 1987-88 academic year. Introductory…