CCRI Joins Achieving The Dream Network To Advance Student Success And Community Impact

06/16/2025

WARWICK, R.I. --  The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is pleased to announce that it has joined the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.

As one of nine institutions joining the organization as part of its 2025 cohort, CCRI will enter into ATD’s Foundations of Transformation core engagement, 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 the colleges strengthen critical capacities with the ultimate goal of supporting the transformation of these institutions as they seek to become inclusive, equitable hubs of economic mobility and regional vitality.

“Being selected for Achieving the Dream’s 2025 cohort is both an honor and an exciting opportunity for CCRI,” said Dr. Rosemary A. Costigan, Interim President of CCRI. “We’ve long been focused on helping all students succeed, and this partnership will deepen our ability to do that by connecting us with proven strategies, national expertise, and a network of colleges that share our goals. It’s a meaningful step forward in our efforts to remove barriers, improve outcomes, and create a more equitable college experience for every student who walks through our doors.”

Teams from the cohort colleges will convene at ATD’s Kickoff Institute, an annual event to welcome incoming Network colleges, which will be held this year from June 25 to 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Kickoff will set the stage for the colleges’ partnerships with ATD and introduce them to the organization’s Institutional Capacity Framework, a comprehensive assessment built on essential capacities that help colleges develop a student-centered culture and enhance student success.

“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 Community College of Rhode Island enrolls nearly 18,000 students in credit-bearing degree and certificate programs and an additional 8,500 individuals in workforce development programs and adult education courses annually. With passionate commitment to students, CCRI provides Rhode Islanders with an outstanding college education that leads to strong learning outcomes, successful postsecondary credential attainment, and robust labor market outcomes. For more information, please visit ccri.edu.

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: www.achievingthedream.org.

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