Six Element451 Partner Colleges Earn 2026 ATD Leader College Designation

Every year, Achieving the Dream recognizes a select group of community colleges that have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success, data-informed practice, and equity-centered transformation. 

These are institutions that don't just talk about change — they build it, measure it, and sustain it. The 2026 ATD Leader College designation is one of the most meaningful honors in the community college sector. This year, six of the recipients are Element451 partners.

We couldn't be more proud to celebrate them.

About the ATD Leader College Designation

The Leader College designation recognizes institutions in the Achieving the Dream network that have demonstrated measurable improvement in student outcomes, built a strong culture of evidence, and embedded equity into their institutional practices. Colleges are evaluated across leadership, data use, teaching and learning, and student supports — and must show not just intention, but results.

As ATD President and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout described the 2026 cohort: "The 2026 Leader Colleges demonstrate sustained commitment and measurable progress in advancing student success. By using data to guide decisions and continuously strengthen their practices, these institutions are producing real gains in student outcomes, strengthening their practices and deepening their impact in the communities they serve."

Our 2026 ATD Leader College Honorees

We are proud to recognize the following Element451 partner institutions as 2026 ATD Leader Colleges:

• Wake Technical Community College (NC) — the largest community college in North Carolina, recognized for years of intentional, college-wide work embedding equity and student-centered practices into its culture
• Community College of Baltimore County (MD) — a long-standing model for inclusive, data-driven practice serving one of Maryland's most diverse counties
• Clark State College (OH) — honored for deepening its culture of evidence and holistic student support
• Clover Park Technical College (WA) — recognized for building workforce-integrated pathways that open real economic doors for students
• Grand Rapids Community College (MI) — one of the most equity-centered community college environments in the state
• Halifax Community College (NC) — a powerful reminder that transformational commitment is not the exclusive domain of large institutions

These six institutions represent some of the country's most diverse student populations and serve communities across six states. Together, they reflect what community colleges are at their very best — accessible, student-centered, and relentlessly focused on outcomes.

"Being named a 2026 Leader College by Achieving the Dream affirms Wake Tech's deep commitment to student success and economic mobility. Wake Tech is our community's most important engine to ensure all residents have an opportunity to be part of the vibrant local economy. This recognition reflects the collective work of our faculty and staff to embed data‑informed, student‑centered practices into our culture and to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed."

— Dr. Scott Ralls, President, Wake Technical Community College

Come Meet the Winners at Engage 2026

Several of our ATD Leader College honorees will be at Engage 2026: Building the Agentic Campus — our annual higher ed AI summit bringing together over 700 leaders in Charlotte, NC. If you want to hear directly from institutions with hard-won wisdom and practical strategies, this is the room to be in.

Wake Technical Community College is presenting on June 17: "20 New Teammates. Zero New Budget: An AI-Forward, Human-Centered Organizational Strategy for Student Success at Scale" — a session that speaks directly to the work that earned them this recognition.

Engage features more than 50 AI-focused sessions, hands-on workshops for both current Element451 customers and anyone building their AI skills, and a community of practitioners who are actively building what higher ed needs next.

Engage 2026 takes place June 15–17 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC.

Register for Engage 2026 →

Congratulations to all 36 institutions named 2026 ATD Leader Colleges, and especially to our six partner colleges. Your work is an inspiration. (Element451 was proud to sponsor DREAM 2026, where this year's cohort was celebrated.)