— information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
Vance-Granville Community College has been designated a Leader College by Achieving the Dream, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing and economic mobility in their communities.
The announcement was made Thursday, Feb. 20 at ATD’s DREAM 2025 conference in Philadelphia. VGCC President Dr. Rachel Demarais was on hand to receive the award.
“VGCC is honored to be recognized as a Leader College for the ATD Network as we work to achieve student excellence and success,” Desmarais said. “Continuous improvement is the fuel to advance the people and communities we serve.”
Leader Colleges are recognized for their role in accelerating the adoption of effective practices within the ATD Network and across higher education. They have demonstrated quality work in whole-college reform, resulting in increased completion rates for all students. Leader Colleges develop innovative ways to work with other colleges to share knowledge and facilitate an exchange of ideas about evidence-based reform strategies.
In 2018, VGCC joined the ATD Network, a coalition of more than 300 colleges across the nation which support student success at their institutions and promote economic vitality in their communities. The school’s Leader College designation continues for three years, at which time VGCC will have the opportunity to be recertified.
“We are proud to recognize our 2025 Leader Colleges and Leader Colleges of Distinction for their extraordinary commitment to student success,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “These colleges exemplify excellence within the ATD Network, achieving measurable gains in student outcomes and fostering impactful change within their institutions and communities. Their dedication to using data-informed approaches to create meaningful opportunities for students and their communities serves as a powerful example for all institutions of higher education and especially for those in the ATD Network.”
