Chattanooga State Award

Chattanooga State is one of ten across the country to be named a Leader College

State community college is getting some big recognition on a national level.

Earlier this month, they were named one of 10 colleges around the country to earn the prestigious status of "leader college."

News 12 joeli poole has more on this story you will see only on 12.

Success doesn't come easy and chattanooga state communtiy college proves that.

In 2016, they joined an organization called achieving the dream.

Now, they are being recognized as one of the leading community colleges in america by that organization.

They are one of ten choosen and one of four to earn the title for the first time.

Dodds "we have finally arrived at a place that we want to be with student success.

So, our atd mission has provided us an opportunity to look at student success through a different lense.

So, we are paying a lot of attention to equity and becoming equity minded."

The transformation of chattstate has taken several years and many steps.

Ashford "we did a number of things.

In the past community colleges didnt require a lot of their students to attend new student orientation, now we do.we require all of our first time freshman to take a college success course, because the students that take that class are so much more successful.

We require tutoring in some of our classes."

The college has trippled their graduation rate for first time freshman since 2014.

Chattstate is also launching a student podcast series called "tiger stories."

Liz norell "each episode is the story of one or two students.

So, it's just kind of finding out what brought them to college , what they are studying, when they felt like they really belonged on campus or feel like they have made a connection with someone.

It also has what advice they would give people who are thinking about coming to college."

Professor liz norell says doing these podcast gives students the opportunity to let their voices be heard.

She also says sharing their stories with the world could help encourage the next person to enroll in college.

Joeli poole "you can find the chattstate tiger stories podcast on any podcast app including apple podcast, spotify, and on chattanooga states website.

You can find a link to their website on wdef dot com.

In chattanooga, joeli poole, news 12 now."

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