Achieving the Dream announced late last month the selection of the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) as a participant in a new initiative that will engage part-time faculty as active contributors to the college's reform efforts under the leadership of full-time faculty.

A national nonprofit organization working with more than 200 colleges across the country, Achieving the Dream is administering this 24-month initiative to assist participating colleges in strengthening their relationships with their adjunct faculties in order to encourage instructional reform and make all faculty members' skill and experience fully available to students .

“We are pleased to have been selected for this grant as it acknowledges and reinforces the College’s commitment to improving student success,” Samuel Hirsch, vice president of Academic and Student Success at Community College of Philadelphia said in a statement. “Increasing opportunities for faculty engagement is a critical strategy. We are fortunate to have such a high level of quality among our faculty, both full- and part-time. This grant provides resources that allow us to actively seek ways to further encourage adjunct faculty engagement.”

The initiative will enable CCP to provide support for adjunct faculty members and create more opportunities for them to increase their knowledge of professional learning and build awareness of campus resources and policies.

A team from CCP began its work at a launch event last Saturday, at Evergreen State College, in Olympia, WA. Following the one-day event, the team participated in the Teaching and Learning National Institute (TLNI), co-sponsored by Achieving the Dream.

The TNLI is bringing together faculty teams from 30 community colleges and four-year institutions to develop evidence-based action plans to improve instructional practices, student engagement, and student learning at their campuses.