(TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- Ocean County College is pleased to announce that it has joined the network of Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility.
As one of nine institutions joining the organization as part of its 2025 cohort, Ocean County College will enter into ATD’s Foundations of Transformation core engagement, an intensive three-year program designed to build essential institutional capacities and accelerate student success. Grounded in ATD’s Community Vibrancy Framework, the engagement will help the colleges strengthen critical capacities with the ultimate goal of supporting the transformation of these institutions as they seek to become inclusive, equitable hubs of economic mobility and regional vitality.
Teams from the cohort colleges convened at ATD’s Kickoff Institute, an annual event to welcome incoming Network colleges, which was held this year from June 25 to 27 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Kickoff set the stage for the colleges’ partnerships with ATD and introduced them to the organization’s Institutional Capacity Framework, a comprehensive assessment built on essential capacities that help colleges develop a student-centered culture and enhance student success.
“Joining Achieving the Dream represents a pivotal step in our ongoing commitment to achievement for all, community vibrancy, and—most importantly—student success,” said Dr. Pamela Monaco, president of Ocean County College. “This partnership will provide us with additional strategies as well as access to a national network of support to help us better understand and remove barriers to student achievement, especially for historically underserved populations in our communities. The kickoff event in Charlotte with the other amazing member colleges in our cohort provided our team inspiration and tools to guide our work. Ocean County College is proud to be a part of this network that aligns so closely with our mission and values.”
“We are honored to welcome these nine colleges into the ATD Network,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “By joining Foundations of Transformation, these institutions are taking an ambitious step to redesign systems, structures, and cultures to support their students more holistically. Their commitment signals not only a deep investment in student success but also in the long-term resilience and vibrancy of the communities they serve. ATD looks forward to walking alongside these colleges as they forge a bold path forward.”
For 60 years, Ocean County College, a public two-year community college sponsored by Ocean County and the State of New Jersey, has provided area residents with the opportunity to benefit from higher education. OCC is an innovative academic leader offering affordable, student-centered, high-quality educational experiences that prepare and empower diverse learners to contribute to and succeed in global societies. OCC invests in and fosters academic, economic, and cultural excellence, and ensures financial strength by generating new revenue streams, engaging in national and international university and corporate partnerships, and cultivating a technologically progressive and entrepreneurial spirit.
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country. Drawing on expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, the organization provides institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work — from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K–12 partnerships, and more. ATD calls this Whole College Transformation. Its vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable and economically vibrant communities. ATD knows that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access, completion rates, and employment outcomes — so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers.
