ACTC Ranked in Top 50 US Community Colleges

ACTC has been ranked among the top 50 community colleges in the US by Washington Monthly. The report issued August 25 ranked colleges by using U.S. Department of Education measures of student retention and completion plus and Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) benchmarks that include interaction with faculty, teaching practices, and student support.

"This ranking is a direct result of the hard work that our faculty and staff do each day," said Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President and CEO."We are very proud of our college and very pleased when others recognize it."

ACTC has improved its scores considerably since it last participated in the study in 2009. "We have multiple activities and programs that enhance student engagement," said Cristina McDavid, Associate Dean of Advising and Student Retention.

"Our Advising Center, Career Center, peer mentors, supplemental instruction leaders, Student Support Services program, and the Veterans coordinator provide a variety of opportunities for students to connect to the college and receive academic support," McDavid said.

Since 2009 ACTChas used a connective advising and transfer system that includes faculty training and advising activity software with an emphasis on student career planning. Students are encouraged to talk with faculty and advisors about how they can follow their career plans while in school. Advisor and faculty support helps students set goals for course completion and overcome the challenges to degree attainment.

ACTC ranked 43 is the survey of more than two-thirds of all community collegesroughly 700 institutions. Another college in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, was also on the list.

According to the Washington Monthlys web editor, Daniel Luzer, this list represents "a vast category of schools that other college guides never bother to evaluate." Yet, the low-cost option of attending community colleges has helped fuel growth in enrollment about 11 million students attend community colleges.

For the complete report and information on ranking measures, go to: www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/.