The program is funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education and managed by MDC, Inc. The American Association of Community Colleges and the Community College Research Center, Teachers College at Columbia University are among the partners. Durham Tech received an initial $50,000 investment grant, and the college is receiving up to $100,000 a year for four years to develop and execute efforts that lead to more student success.

As a result of this effort, a number of new initiatives are in place at Durham Tech and are already making a difference for students. Durham Tech has set up some “safety nets” for developmental studies students through its Early Alert program. “Research shows that students who fail, fail early,” said Dr. William Ingram, Senior Vice President/Chief Instructional Officer. Students who enroll in Early Alert are referred by instructors to tutors as soon as they begin doing poorly or missing classes. Instructors can also refer students to counselors for personal problems that are interfering with college. Another initiative is the College Student Success course that helps students learn to set goals, develop study and note-taking skills, and find out about campus resources. Career program students are also now required to attend Orientation sessions that help them become familiar with college resources.

‘Achieving the Dream’ colleges are also eligible for DreamKeepers grants to assist students who have financial emergencies. These funds help students facing personal challenges that threaten their continued college enrollment. DreamKeepers emergency loans are made to students who would have had to drop out of college because of unexpected car repair bills, additional childcare expenses, or other emergencies. These loans are forgiven if the students enroll the next semester or complete their program of study.