Summary
Initiative Name: Scaling Shortened Academic Terms
Application Due Date: June 30, 2025
Application Decisions Announced: July 2025
Project Launch with Successful Applicants: November 2025
Project Duration: Four years
Funding and Support: Ascendium Education Group
Eligible Applicants: States or systems whose colleges are successfully implementing shortened academic terms. Selected applicants must commit to active participation throughout the duration of the cohort period.
Number of Successful Applicants: Four states or systems
Application Contact: Please direct any questions about this project and application to NetworkSAT@achievingthedream.org.
Overview
The Opportunity
In recent years, community colleges have increasingly turned to innovative strategies to accelerate student success and improve completion rates. Implementing shortened academic terms — such as eight-week semesters or quarters — has emerged as a promising strategy for decreasing time to credential. Despite its potential, the evidence supporting the efficacy of these models remains primarily self-reported, and the practice has yet to be scaled sufficiently to provide a comprehensive understanding of what drives success and for whom.
The potential benefits of shortened academic terms are significant. They offer more flexible and continuous enrollment options, essential for supporting a student body, particularly those who balance work, family commitments, and other responsibilities. Research by Jenkins and Bailey (2017) has shown that such flexibility can significantly improve retention rates, accelerate degree completion, and enhance academic outcomes for students who may struggle with the pace of traditional semester-length courses.
Research and practitioner data from Trident Technical College, Odessa College, and Amarillo College exemplify how shortened academic terms can transform the student experience, helping students balance responsibilities while achieving academic success:
- Trident Technical College saw an increase in student course success rates from 63.2% to 75.3% alongside a significant drop in withdrawal rates after it implemented shorter terms (from ATD’s Preparing for Shortened Academic Terms: A Guide).
- Odessa College saw credit accumulation rise after introducing eight-week courses, leading to more full-time students and shorter times to credential completion. In just two years after implementing shortened academic terms, Odessa experienced a 26% increase in first-time-in-college enrollment, and its graduation rate doubled to 42% (from ATD’s Preparing for Shortened Academic Terms: A Guide).
- Amarillo College saw improved retention rates and greater student engagement. Faculty at Amarillo College reported stronger connections with students, which contributed to a more supportive learning environment and higher student satisfaction.
Brenner’s (2024) study at Waukesha County Technical College found that while course success rates improved from 81.9% to 84.4% following the adoption of an eight-week term, significant upfront adjustments in educational planning and resource allocation are necessary to ensure success.
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is at the forefront of this transformative work because of our leadership in educational reform. Our deep understanding of community college operations and student needs, coupled with more than 20 years of experience in institutional transformation, positions ATD to guide colleges through the processes of effectively adopting and scaling shortened academic terms. This initiative is an opportunity to learn from and scale best practices that align academic term structures with broader student success strategies, ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities.
Initiative Overview
ATD, in collaboration with Ascendium Education Group and Community College Research Center (CCRC), is leading a four-year initiative to scale the implementation of shortened academic terms at community colleges nationwide. This initiative offers approximately 16 colleges across 4 states or systems a chance to lead the way in this transformative effort. Participating states and systems will lead and support their institutions in accelerating innovative course structures that better serve the evolving needs of today’s students.
The initiative is designed to support faculty, advisors, and institutional leaders in identifying and implementing changes to applicable institutional structures for scaling shortened academic terms. Participating colleges will receive hands-on support through webinars, workshops, coaching, and peer engagement opportunities — all aimed at fostering a culture of continuous improvement with a strong focus on student success. These resources will equip colleges with the tools and strategies needed to successfully implement and scale shortened academic terms, contributing to more flexible and inclusive educational environments.
By taking part in this initiative, states and systems will operate as communities of practice to not only contribute to student success in their respective states but also help shape the future of higher education. Working alongside other states and systems, participants will share best practices, showcase their results, and establish the criteria for how institutions can create more responsive and adaptive learning models. Ultimately, this initiative will empower colleges within and beyond the ATD Network to sustain and scale these innovations, leaving a lasting impact on students, institutions, and the broader higher education landscape.
CCRC will conduct research to provide formative feedback on the implementation and scaling of shortened academic terms and to measure their outcomes. Please click here to learn more about how this evaluation will be completed.
Applicant Commitments
By participating in this project, each state/system will receive $24,000 total over the four years of the grant ($6,000/year).
States/systems will:
1. Identify 8 institutions that are prepared and committed to scaling shortened academic terms and recommend them for participation. (Up to four institutions per state will be selected for participation in the initiative).
2. Designate a key state or system leader to oversee, support, and coordinate the state’s/system’s participation. This leader must attend necessary meetings and events, including the kickoff event and DREAM, to ensure that the state or system’s involvement is aligned with the initiative’s goals and must maintain ongoing communication/reporting with CCRC and ATD to keep them apprised of progress and challenges.
3. Ensure that participating colleges have sufficient institutional research (IR) and IT bandwidth to participate fully in the initiative, including data collection, analysis, and reporting to evaluators and partners to track the progress of implementing shortened academic terms and the effectiveness of scaling. This may involve providing additional resources or support to colleges that require increased information resources (IR) and information technology (IT) capacity.
4. Ensure that the initiative’s activities align with the broader strategic goals of the state or system. This may involve integrating the initiative’s outcomes into state or system-wide educational policies or practices.
5. Bolster the capacity and ability of colleges to serve learners by providing tailored teaching and learning and holistic student supports necessary to ensuring success in scaling and sustaining shortened academic terms.
6. Share lessons learned with the broader higher education community through ATD learning events and publications as well as partner events and collaborations so that peer colleges and partners can benefit from the expertise.
Achieving the Dream Commitments
ATD will:
1. Support the scaling of shortened academic terms for up to four colleges in each selected state. This support will include coaching, workshops, webinars, and other professional development opportunities to equip colleges to implement and sustain these innovative academic structures.
2. Provide continuous support through both individual and collective check-ins with system leads and the selected colleges in each state. These check-ins will ensure that all participants stay aligned with the initiative’s goals and address any emerging challenges promptly.
3. In partnership with CCRC, deliver training sessions focused on the data collection process, including the use of a standardized data collection template. This will ensure that all participating systems and institutions understand how to gather and report data consistently, enabling effective evaluation and continuous improvement.
4. Co-convene regular meetings for each system’s community of practice alongside system leads. These gatherings will provide a platform for sharing best practices, addressing common challenges, and fostering peer learning among the participating colleges.
5. Work closely with each system to customize support based on specific needs and contexts. This includes targeted technical assistance, resources, and guidance to ensure they are relevant and effective for each system’s unique challenges and opportunities.
6. Facilitate opportunities for cross-system learning and collaboration, allowing systems to learn from one another’s experiences, share innovative practices, and collectively overcome barriers to implementation.
Timeline
Date | Event |
June 2025 | Application Opens |
July 2025 | Application Closes |
August 2025 | College Application Opens |
September 2025 | College Application Closes |
September–October 2025 | Institutions Notified |
November 10-12, 2025 | In-Person Kickoff Event |
Applicant Eligibility
Indicators of State or System Readiness
- Length of time of colleges in the state implementing shortened academic terms with supporting evidence
- Infrastructure to disseminate learnings to other colleges in the state, including
o Effective strategies for communicating the rationale for shortened academic terms, including strategies in student advising and support services
o Promising policies and practices that support the scaling of shortened academic terms
o Knowledge of how the infrastructure is working to support scaling of shortened academic terms
- Capacity to facilitate collaboration between colleges within the state
Proposed Use of Grant Fund
Each state/system will receive $24,000 total over the four years of the grant ($6,000/year) to support its participation in this project. These funds may be used for any effort that will help the planning and implementation of a strategy to scale shortened academic terms. Valid uses of the funds include, but are not limited to:
- Personnel costs for staff to participate in the project
- Professional development costs, including conferences and travel
- Implementation costs associated with any practices identified by the state or system team directly related to scaling shortened academic terms
- Travel to in-person project events
Institutions chosen to participate in the project will also receive funds to support their work.
Application Submission Guidelines
System/state applications must be completed by the chancellor’s/president’s office and include the names of the 8 institutions recommended for consideration. The list of recommendations should represent the diversity of institutions in the system/state across demographics, location, program offerings, and institutional size.
Questions can be directed to:
NetworkSAT@achievingthedream.org
You may preview the application that will be used to select the institutions here.
Scaling Shortened Academic Terms
Summary
Initiative Name: Scaling Shortened Academic Terms
Application Due Date: June 30, 2025
Application Decisions Announced: July 2025
Project Launch with Successful Applicants: November 2025
Project Duration: Four years
Funding and Support: Ascendium Education Group
Eligible Applicants: States or systems whose colleges are successfully implementing shortened academic terms. Selected applicants must commit to active participation throughout the duration of the cohort period.
Number of Successful Applicants: Four states or systems
Application Contact: Please direct any questions about this project and application to NetworkSAT@achievingthedream.org.
Overview
The Opportunity
In recent years, community colleges have increasingly turned to innovative strategies to accelerate student success and improve completion rates. Implementing shortened academic terms — such as eight-week semesters or quarters — has emerged as a promising strategy for decreasing time to credential. Despite its potential, the evidence supporting the efficacy of these models remains primarily self-reported, and the practice has yet to be scaled sufficiently to provide a comprehensive understanding of what drives success and for whom.
The potential benefits of shortened academic terms are significant. They offer more flexible and continuous enrollment options, essential for supporting a student body, particularly those who balance work, family commitments, and other responsibilities. Research by Jenkins and Bailey (2017) has shown that such flexibility can significantly improve retention rates, accelerate degree completion, and enhance academic outcomes for students who may struggle with the pace of traditional semester-length courses.
Research and practitioner data from Trident Technical College, Odessa College, and Amarillo College exemplify how shortened academic terms can transform the student experience, helping students balance responsibilities while achieving academic success:
- Trident Technical College saw an increase in student course success rates from 63.2% to 75.3% alongside a significant drop in withdrawal rates after it implemented shorter terms (from ATD’s Preparing for Shortened Academic Terms: A Guide).
- Odessa College saw credit accumulation rise after introducing eight-week courses, leading to more full-time students and shorter times to credential completion. In just two years after implementing shortened academic terms, Odessa experienced a 26% increase in first-time-in-college enrollment, and its graduation rate doubled to 42% (from ATD’s Preparing for Shortened Academic Terms: A Guide).
- Amarillo College saw improved retention rates and greater student engagement. Faculty at Amarillo College reported stronger connections with students, which contributed to a more supportive learning environment and higher student satisfaction.
Brenner’s (2024) study at Waukesha County Technical College found that while course success rates improved from 81.9% to 84.4% following the adoption of an eight-week term, significant upfront adjustments in educational planning and resource allocation are necessary to ensure success.
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is at the forefront of this transformative work because of our leadership in educational reform. Our deep understanding of community college operations and student needs, coupled with more than 20 years of experience in institutional transformation, positions ATD to guide colleges through the processes of effectively adopting and scaling shortened academic terms. This initiative is an opportunity to learn from and scale best practices that align academic term structures with broader student success strategies, ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities.
Initiative Overview
ATD, in collaboration with Ascendium Education Group and Community College Research Center (CCRC), is leading a four-year initiative to scale the implementation of shortened academic terms at community colleges nationwide. This initiative offers approximately 16 colleges across 4 states or systems a chance to lead the way in this transformative effort. Participating states and systems will lead and support their institutions in accelerating innovative course structures that better serve the evolving needs of today’s students.
The initiative is designed to support faculty, advisors, and institutional leaders in identifying and implementing changes to applicable institutional structures for scaling shortened academic terms. Participating colleges will receive hands-on support through webinars, workshops, coaching, and peer engagement opportunities — all aimed at fostering a culture of continuous improvement with a strong focus on student success. These resources will equip colleges with the tools and strategies needed to successfully implement and scale shortened academic terms, contributing to more flexible and inclusive educational environments.
By taking part in this initiative, states and systems will operate as communities of practice to not only contribute to student success in their respective states but also help shape the future of higher education. Working alongside other states and systems, participants will share best practices, showcase their results, and establish the criteria for how institutions can create more responsive and adaptive learning models. Ultimately, this initiative will empower colleges within and beyond the ATD Network to sustain and scale these innovations, leaving a lasting impact on students, institutions, and the broader higher education landscape.
CCRC will conduct research to provide formative feedback on the implementation and scaling of shortened academic terms and to measure their outcomes. Please click here to learn more about how this evaluation will be completed.
Applicant Commitments
By participating in this project, each state/system will receive $24,000 total over the four years of the grant ($6,000/year).
States/systems will:
1. Identify 8 institutions that are prepared and committed to scaling shortened academic terms and recommend them for participation. (Up to four institutions per state will be selected for participation in the initiative).
2. Designate a key state or system leader to oversee, support, and coordinate the state’s/system’s participation. This leader must attend necessary meetings and events, including the kickoff event and DREAM, to ensure that the state or system’s involvement is aligned with the initiative’s goals and must maintain ongoing communication/reporting with CCRC and ATD to keep them apprised of progress and challenges.
3. Ensure that participating colleges have sufficient institutional research (IR) and IT bandwidth to participate fully in the initiative, including data collection, analysis, and reporting to evaluators and partners to track the progress of implementing shortened academic terms and the effectiveness of scaling. This may involve providing additional resources or support to colleges that require increased information resources (IR) and information technology (IT) capacity.
4. Ensure that the initiative’s activities align with the broader strategic goals of the state or system. This may involve integrating the initiative’s outcomes into state or system-wide educational policies or practices.
5. Bolster the capacity and ability of colleges to serve learners by providing tailored teaching and learning and holistic student supports necessary to ensuring success in scaling and sustaining shortened academic terms.
6. Share lessons learned with the broader higher education community through ATD learning events and publications as well as partner events and collaborations so that peer colleges and partners can benefit from the expertise.
Achieving the Dream Commitments
ATD will:
1. Support the scaling of shortened academic terms for up to four colleges in each selected state. This support will include coaching, workshops, webinars, and other professional development opportunities to equip colleges to implement and sustain these innovative academic structures.
2. Provide continuous support through both individual and collective check-ins with system leads and the selected colleges in each state. These check-ins will ensure that all participants stay aligned with the initiative’s goals and address any emerging challenges promptly.
3. In partnership with CCRC, deliver training sessions focused on the data collection process, including the use of a standardized data collection template. This will ensure that all participating systems and institutions understand how to gather and report data consistently, enabling effective evaluation and continuous improvement.
4. Co-convene regular meetings for each system’s community of practice alongside system leads. These gatherings will provide a platform for sharing best practices, addressing common challenges, and fostering peer learning among the participating colleges.
5. Work closely with each system to customize support based on specific needs and contexts. This includes targeted technical assistance, resources, and guidance to ensure they are relevant and effective for each system’s unique challenges and opportunities.
6. Facilitate opportunities for cross-system learning and collaboration, allowing systems to learn from one another’s experiences, share innovative practices, and collectively overcome barriers to implementation.
Timeline
Date | Event |
June 2025 | Application Opens |
July 2025 | Application Closes |
August 2025 | College Application Opens |
September 2025 | College Application Closes |
September–October 2025 | Institutions Notified |
November 10-12, 2025 | In-Person Kickoff Event |
Applicant Eligibility
Indicators of State or System Readiness
- Length of time of colleges in the state implementing shortened academic terms with supporting evidence
- Infrastructure to disseminate learnings to other colleges in the state, including
o Effective strategies for communicating the rationale for shortened academic terms, including strategies in student advising and support services
o Promising policies and practices that support the scaling of shortened academic terms
o Knowledge of how the infrastructure is working to support scaling of shortened academic terms
- Capacity to facilitate collaboration between colleges within the state
Proposed Use of Grant Fund
Each state/system will receive $24,000 total over the four years of the grant ($6,000/year) to support its participation in this project. These funds may be used for any effort that will help the planning and implementation of a strategy to scale shortened academic terms. Valid uses of the funds include, but are not limited to:
- Personnel costs for staff to participate in the project
- Professional development costs, including conferences and travel
- Implementation costs associated with any practices identified by the state or system team directly related to scaling shortened academic terms
- Travel to in-person project events
Institutions chosen to participate in the project will also receive funds to support their work.
Application Submission Guidelines
System/state applications must be completed by the chancellor’s/president’s office and include the names of the 8 institutions recommended for consideration. The list of recommendations should represent the diversity of institutions in the system/state across demographics, location, program offerings, and institutional size.
Questions can be directed to:
NetworkSAT@achievingthedream.org
You may preview the application that will be used to select the institutions here.