Achieving the Dream has announced that West Los Angeles College earned Leader College distinction—a national designation awarded to community colleges that commit to improving student success and closing achievement gaps. West has shown how data can inform policy and practice to help community college students achieve their goals, resulting in improved skills, better employability, and economic growth for families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
“We are proud to be honored in this way but, more importantly, we are pleased to see that steps we have taken and continue to take are making a difference for students,” said Robert Sprague, WLAC Interim President.
West’s Fall to Fall student persistence rose more than 5 percent between 2010 and 2013. The data also shows West is decreasing the gaps in persistence between Black, Latino and low income students and the persistence of White and Asian. The Fall to Fall persistence for African American students rose 10% from Fall 2010 to Fall 2013.
“Becoming a Leader College is very powerful and affirms the exceptional work and commitment of faculty and staff to their students’ success,” said Achieving the Dream Vice President for Community College Relations Cindy Lenhart. “West is using evidence to make informed decisions that lead to significant institutional change.”
Contributing factors to the gains in persistence include using the Achieving the Dream framework and making progress on our established intervention strategies of Enhanced Communication with Students, Professional Development, and Enhanced Tutoring.
