Gateway to College
Gateway to College Program One of Only Three Nationally to be Recognized Three Consecutive Years
Achieving the Dream’s Gateway to College program at Shasta College has received a Program Excellence Award in recognition of exceeding all four benchmarks used to assess the performance of Gateway to College programs nationwide. Through Gateway to College, students who have dropped out of high school or who are significantly off track, complete their high school diplomas in college-based programs while simultaneously earning credits toward a postsecondary credential. Shasta College has hosted a Gateway to College program since 2013, and the program enrolled 77 students during the academic year when they received the award.
This marks the third consecutive Program Excellence Award for the Shasta College Gateway program, making it one of only three programs nationally to receive the honor over that duration of time. Shasta College’s Gateway Program Director, Nancy Berkey, was presented the award by Achieving the Dream President Dr. Karen A. Stout and Executive Vice President Emily Froimson at the Gateway to College Directors Convening in New Haven, Connecticut at the end of July.
“Gateway to College programs provide a critical second chance for vulnerable high school students and a powerful testament to the importance of wraparound supports and creating a sense of belonging in college. Nearly 75 percent of program graduates nationwide continue their post-secondary education,” said Emily Froimson, Executive Vice President of Achieving the Dream.
“I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the Shasta College Gateway to College team,” said Nancy Berkey, Shasta College’s Gateway Program Director. With strong support from the Shasta College campus community, and a solid partnership with the Shasta Union High School district, 226 students who were not on track to graduate have now earned their high school diplomas through the Gateway to College program. We are proud to offer this unique opportunity for young people in our community to reengage with education and explore the options available to them on the college campus,” Berkey said.
ABOUT ACHIEVING THE DREAM
Achieving the Dream (ATD) leads a growing network of 277 community colleges committed to helping their students, particularly low-income students and students of color, achieve their goals for academic success, personal growth, and economic opportunity. ATD is making progress in closing academic achievement gaps and accelerating student success through a unique change process that builds each college’s institutional capacities in seven essential areas. ATD, along with 75 experienced coaches and advisors, works closely with Network colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia, including 35 Gateway to College programs in 18 states, to reach more than 4 million community college students.