Dr. Karen A. Stout
The framework, which is being piloted with colleges that collectively educate over 200,000 students, represents a significant shift in how community colleges approach their mission. Rather than focusing solely on graduation rates, the new model emphasizes economic mobility, community impact, and long-term societal gains.
"This is a new roadmap for community college sustainability, a pathway for ensuring relevance with value, and a redefining moment for what the student success movement is all about," says Dr. Karen A. Stout, ATD's president and CEO. Stout will present more details about the framework's implementation at ATD's annual DREAM Conference next week in Philadelphia, where over 2,000 community college leaders and practitioners will gather to share best practices and innovative strategies.
The timing is critical. Community colleges, which educate nearly 44% of all U.S. undergraduates, are facing multiple challenges including enrollment pressures, demographic shifts, and growing skepticism about higher education's value. Despite some recent recovery, overall community college enrollment is just returning to pre-pandemic levels, while remaining well below peak enrollments from the early 2000s. The framework helps institutions respond by connecting their work more directly to community needs and economic outcomes.
Early results from participating colleges show promising innovations. At Grayson College in Texas, implementation of a Promise Program has led to a 35% increase in direct enrollment from high schools. The college recently secured a $456.5 million facilities bond tied to supporting next-generation talent development, particularly in response to the region's growing semiconductor industry.
Durham Technical Community College in North Carolina has developed new partnerships to create career pathways, including a life sciences training program that helps graduates secure jobs paying $40,000-$50,000 annually. The program provides $10,000 living stipends to participants and organizes them into cohorts with comprehensive support services.
The framework consists of several key components, including intentional outreach to underserved populations, affordable access, early academic momentum, and clear pathways to economic mobility. Colleges are using new metrics to track not just student completion, but also post-graduation employment, wage gains, and broader community impact indicators.
