About the ATD Network
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of community colleges across the country. Drawing on our expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, we provide institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work for supporting students holistically, building K–12 partnerships, and more. We call this Whole College Transformation. We know 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.
Foundations of Transformation
The Foundations of Transformation experience equips colleges to move from intention to institution-wide action for student success. Through a structured and data-informed process, participating institutions:
Establish a clear, shared vision for student success that aligns people, priorities, and resources
Build leadership and cross-functional teams capable of driving and sustaining institutional change
Use data and student experience insights to uncover challenges and focus efforts where they matter most
Develop and implement an evidence-based action plan that translates learning into measurable improvement in student outcomes
Strengthen institutional capacity for continuous learning, inquiry, and improvement
Embed student voice and community partnerships at the center of transformation
By the end of the three-year experience, colleges have the infrastructure, leadership, and culture needed to achieve lasting, measurable gains in student success and equity.
First Year
During the first year of their experience, institutions will develop a comprehensive action plan aligned with their student success goals and tailored to their strategic priorities. It will be informed by the following:
Kickoff Institute: Institutions will begin their engagement by attending the 2026 Kickoff Institute. Here you will meet your ATD coaches and together begin to understand your data and participate in exercises that identify barriers and opportunities to support their student success goals.
Coaching: You will be assigned two coaches, including a data and leadership coach, who will provide personalized and tailored coaching throughout the entire FoT experience.
On-Campus Site Visits: Your two ATD coaches will join you on campus for three one-and-a-half-day site visits. One of these visits will include the ICAT Capacity Café described below.
ICAT Administration: Critical to your action planning is the administration of ATD’s Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT) to assess your college’s capacity in areas critical for creating a student and community-centered culture.
ICAT Capacity Café: Once the ICAT has been administered, a comprehensive, on-campus workshop will be facilitated by your ATD coaches to discuss results that inform your action plan and advance campus strategic priorities.
Action Plan: Institutions will develop an evidence-based action plan that translates discovery and learning into focused priorities, measurable goals, and defined metrics to assess progress and impact.
Second and Third Year
Building on the action plan developed during the first year, the work in years two and three are customized to each institution’s priorities and progress. Efforts will focus on implementing strategies, deepening institutional capacity, and tracking measurable outcomes. By the conclusion of the third year, institutions will demonstrate results aligned with their action plan goals and sustained progress toward achieving systemic, student-centered transformation.
Coaching: You will meet monthly with your coaches for support and guidance on the implementation of your action plan in relationship with your college’s student success priorities.
On-Campus Site Visits: Your two ATD coaches will join you on campus for two one-and-a-half-day site visits to support your action plan, strategic priorities, and outcomes.
Annual DREAM Conference: You will receive two complimentary registrations. Cohorts meet at DREAM to discuss their progress and meet with their coaches.
Annual Reflection: You will complete a survey with support from your coaches on the implementation of the action plan.
Optional Opportunities in Fourth Year
After completing the initial three-year Foundations of Transformation experience, institutions can continue a partnership with ATD through various opportunities to continue to build on the progress made in the first three years. Institutions will also have the ability to apply for an ATD Award, with our highest award, the Leah Meyer Austin Award, now supporting recipients with $100K.
Fees
Achieving the Dream recognizes that participation in this three-year program represents a meaningful institutional investment. To support broad access, the application includes an option to indicate interest in financial support, and applicants are encouraged to speak with our team early in the process about financial concerns.
The total program investment is $80K a year for three-years, with a detailed breakdown of fees and cost components provided in the application. While funding is limited and not guaranteed to all applicants, ATD works with institutions for whom cost may be a barrier to explore available options.
Institutions with financial need may consider participating as part of a consortium of three or more colleges. This model adjusts the program’s format to support collective implementation, allowing participating institutions to engage in shared activities, coordinated coaching, and joint learning opportunities. It can reduce individual costs, foster regional collaboration, and strengthen shared learning and impact across participating institutions.
Network Benefits
The program cost includes full membership in the Achieving the Dream Network, providing access to a range of benefits and resources available throughout the duration of participation. Benefits include:
Two coaches with leadership and data experience in higher education, who are assigned to support your college throughout your student success journey based on the priorities you identify in this application
Registration for DREAM, ATD’s annual conference. You will receive four complimentary registrations in your first year and two complimentary registrations for your second and third years. Reduced, in-network pricing is available for additional DREAM registrations
Monthly check-in calls with your coaches to build momentum, review what you are learning, and discuss progress
Enrollment into ATD Connect, an online resource, provided through the LMS Canvas, to access materials to support your orientation into the Foundations of Transformation experience
Access to ATD’s Network-only webinar series and in-Network pricing for learning events
Access to valuable professional development resources, including the Start Right Guide for new ATD colleges, Toolkits (Teaching & Learning, Equity, and Holistic Student Supports) and latest research findings about high-impact practices in the field
Key Dates
February 27, 2026 | Application Deadline |
March 16, 2026 | Notification of Acceptance |
June 2, 2026 | Public Announcement |
June 8-12, 2026 | Kickoff Institute (Location TBA) |
Application and Contact Information
We welcome institutions interested in ATD’s Foundations of Transformation program to submit their application, no later than February 27, 2026.
If you have any questions about the program before applying, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email. We’re happy to discuss your goals, explore whether the program is a good fit, and share how we can best support. Please contact us at network@achievingthedream.org.
Requirements and Resources
Before beginning your online application form, please access the resources provided here to assist you in crafting the strongest submission possible.
- Board statement of support: You may use ATD’s board letter of support template; email network@achievingthedream.org to request this template.
- The president/CEO statement must be signed and dated by the president/CEO and include the following: "By submitting this with my signature, I affirm that I reviewed and approved my institution’s application to join the ATD Network as part of the 2026 cohort.
- You may draft your application in this Word document and copy and paste your responses into SurveyMonkey Apply when you are ready to submit. Drafts can be saved and edited and will not be submitted until you hit the “Submit” button.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Achieving the Dream staff at network@achievingthedream.org.
Achieving the Dream 2026 Cohort
About the ATD Network
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of community colleges across the country. Drawing on our expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, we provide institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work for supporting students holistically, building K–12 partnerships, and more. We call this Whole College Transformation. We know 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.
Foundations of Transformation
The Foundations of Transformation experience equips colleges to move from intention to institution-wide action for student success. Through a structured and data-informed process, participating institutions:
Establish a clear, shared vision for student success that aligns people, priorities, and resources
Build leadership and cross-functional teams capable of driving and sustaining institutional change
Use data and student experience insights to uncover challenges and focus efforts where they matter most
Develop and implement an evidence-based action plan that translates learning into measurable improvement in student outcomes
Strengthen institutional capacity for continuous learning, inquiry, and improvement
Embed student voice and community partnerships at the center of transformation
By the end of the three-year experience, colleges have the infrastructure, leadership, and culture needed to achieve lasting, measurable gains in student success and equity.
First Year
During the first year of their experience, institutions will develop a comprehensive action plan aligned with their student success goals and tailored to their strategic priorities. It will be informed by the following:
Kickoff Institute: Institutions will begin their engagement by attending the 2026 Kickoff Institute. Here you will meet your ATD coaches and together begin to understand your data and participate in exercises that identify barriers and opportunities to support their student success goals.
Coaching: You will be assigned two coaches, including a data and leadership coach, who will provide personalized and tailored coaching throughout the entire FoT experience.
On-Campus Site Visits: Your two ATD coaches will join you on campus for three one-and-a-half-day site visits. One of these visits will include the ICAT Capacity Café described below.
ICAT Administration: Critical to your action planning is the administration of ATD’s Institutional Capacity Assessment Tool (ICAT) to assess your college’s capacity in areas critical for creating a student and community-centered culture.
ICAT Capacity Café: Once the ICAT has been administered, a comprehensive, on-campus workshop will be facilitated by your ATD coaches to discuss results that inform your action plan and advance campus strategic priorities.
Action Plan: Institutions will develop an evidence-based action plan that translates discovery and learning into focused priorities, measurable goals, and defined metrics to assess progress and impact.
Second and Third Year
Building on the action plan developed during the first year, the work in years two and three are customized to each institution’s priorities and progress. Efforts will focus on implementing strategies, deepening institutional capacity, and tracking measurable outcomes. By the conclusion of the third year, institutions will demonstrate results aligned with their action plan goals and sustained progress toward achieving systemic, student-centered transformation.
Coaching: You will meet monthly with your coaches for support and guidance on the implementation of your action plan in relationship with your college’s student success priorities.
On-Campus Site Visits: Your two ATD coaches will join you on campus for two one-and-a-half-day site visits to support your action plan, strategic priorities, and outcomes.
Annual DREAM Conference: You will receive two complimentary registrations. Cohorts meet at DREAM to discuss their progress and meet with their coaches.
Annual Reflection: You will complete a survey with support from your coaches on the implementation of the action plan.
Optional Opportunities in Fourth Year
After completing the initial three-year Foundations of Transformation experience, institutions can continue a partnership with ATD through various opportunities to continue to build on the progress made in the first three years. Institutions will also have the ability to apply for an ATD Award, with our highest award, the Leah Meyer Austin Award, now supporting recipients with $100K.
Fees
Achieving the Dream recognizes that participation in this three-year program represents a meaningful institutional investment. To support broad access, the application includes an option to indicate interest in financial support, and applicants are encouraged to speak with our team early in the process about financial concerns.
The total program investment is $80K a year for three-years, with a detailed breakdown of fees and cost components provided in the application. While funding is limited and not guaranteed to all applicants, ATD works with institutions for whom cost may be a barrier to explore available options.
Institutions with financial need may consider participating as part of a consortium of three or more colleges. This model adjusts the program’s format to support collective implementation, allowing participating institutions to engage in shared activities, coordinated coaching, and joint learning opportunities. It can reduce individual costs, foster regional collaboration, and strengthen shared learning and impact across participating institutions.
Network Benefits
The program cost includes full membership in the Achieving the Dream Network, providing access to a range of benefits and resources available throughout the duration of participation. Benefits include:
Two coaches with leadership and data experience in higher education, who are assigned to support your college throughout your student success journey based on the priorities you identify in this application
Registration for DREAM, ATD’s annual conference. You will receive four complimentary registrations in your first year and two complimentary registrations for your second and third years. Reduced, in-network pricing is available for additional DREAM registrations
Monthly check-in calls with your coaches to build momentum, review what you are learning, and discuss progress
Enrollment into ATD Connect, an online resource, provided through the LMS Canvas, to access materials to support your orientation into the Foundations of Transformation experience
Access to ATD’s Network-only webinar series and in-Network pricing for learning events
Access to valuable professional development resources, including the Start Right Guide for new ATD colleges, Toolkits (Teaching & Learning, Equity, and Holistic Student Supports) and latest research findings about high-impact practices in the field
Key Dates
February 27, 2026 | Application Deadline |
March 16, 2026 | Notification of Acceptance |
June 2, 2026 | Public Announcement |
June 8-12, 2026 | Kickoff Institute (Location TBA) |
Application and Contact Information
We welcome institutions interested in ATD’s Foundations of Transformation program to submit their application, no later than February 27, 2026.
If you have any questions about the program before applying, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email. We’re happy to discuss your goals, explore whether the program is a good fit, and share how we can best support. Please contact us at network@achievingthedream.org.
Requirements and Resources
Before beginning your online application form, please access the resources provided here to assist you in crafting the strongest submission possible.
- Board statement of support: You may use ATD’s board letter of support template; email network@achievingthedream.org to request this template.
- The president/CEO statement must be signed and dated by the president/CEO and include the following: "By submitting this with my signature, I affirm that I reviewed and approved my institution’s application to join the ATD Network as part of the 2026 cohort.
- You may draft your application in this Word document and copy and paste your responses into SurveyMonkey Apply when you are ready to submit. Drafts can be saved and edited and will not be submitted until you hit the “Submit” button.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Achieving the Dream staff at network@achievingthedream.org.