Achieving the Dream Initiative

Achieving the Dream logo

Along with six other Pennsylvania community colleges, CCAC was honored to be selected to join Achieving the Dream in 2006. Achieving the Dream is a national initiative to help more community college students succeed, particularly low-income students and students of color. There are more than three hundred Achieving the Dream institutions across the country.

Being an Achieving the Dream college augments our existing commitments to provide learners with opportunities—including programs and services that enable success in academic, career, personal and civic pursuits—and to ensure the success of learners through ongoing assessment of learning outcomes and overall institutional effectiveness.

We are privileged to have two esteemed colleagues serving as our coaches in this initiative:

  • Dr. Mary Fifield

    Dr. Fifield served as president at two community colleges spanning 20 years: Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) in Massachusetts and Harrisburg Area Community College in Pennsylvania. During her tenure, each college was selected as national recipient for achievement of equity and opportunity for persons of color and women by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). She has served on the Board and Executive Committee of the American Association of Community Colleges, on the MA Governor’s Higher Education Leadership Transition Team, and the Commonwealth’s Workforce Investment Board. Her strengths include institutional transformation and creation of equitable student success strategies.

    Learn more about her work here: https://achievingthedream.org/person/dr-mary-fifield/

  • Dr. Rhonda Coats

    Dr. Rhonda Coats has more than 35 years of experience in higher education administration at both the campus level and the state system level. While she has taught basic skills and GED prep classes, her love for students moved her to a career in Student Affairs. She has direct operational, oversight, leadership and or policy development experience in student recruitment, admissions, financial aid, academic advising, athletics, childcare, counseling, disability access services, student employment, student government, career services, records, campus safety, Title IX, TRiO and Veteran Affairs.

    Learn more about her work here: https://achievingthedream.org/person/dr-rhonda-coats/