Achieving the Dream

Achieving the Dream, Inc. is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping more community college students, particularly low-income students and students of color, stay in school and earn a college certificate or degree.

What are We Doing

With students as our focus, Porterville College provides our local and diverse communities educational experiences that foster intellectual curiosity and growth, lifelong learning, and prepares our students for personal and academic success. In support of our values and philosophy, Porterville College:

• Provides quality academic programs to all students who are capable of benefiting from community college instruction.
• Provides comprehensive support services to help students achieve their personal, vocational and academic potential.
• Prepares students for transfer and success at four-year institutions.
• Provides courses and training to prepare students for employment or to enhance skills within their current careers.
• Provides developmental education to students who need to enhance their knowledge and understanding of basic skills.
• Recognizes student achievement through awarding degrees, certificates, grants, and scholarships.

The richness of diversity both demands and invites a dedication to a dynamic educational environment that is accessible and fosters the success of all students. The following support services address the diverse needs of the Porterville and surrounding areas.

• Job, Entrepreneur, and Career Center - The JEC Center at Porterville College collaborates with Student Services and community partners to minimize the economic, academic, and social barriers that impede a student's successful transition into a community college and/or the workforce.  Educational Advisors conduct campus workshops, provide off-campus seminars, and one-on-one student service. Assistance is available with academic/educational planning, career readiness, financial literacy, and small business development (entrepreneurship). 

• Presidential Leadership Program Pilot - The Presidential Leadership Program is being offered to a limited number of developmental students. During the course of the program, students participate in JEC/Student Services workshops (self-management, finance/financial, health & wellness, career planning and financial aid) and cultural/campus events. Students are required to meet with an education advisor monthly. This program helps students develop and apply their unique leadership skills while receiving wrap-around services. PC's counselors and advisors are almost like surrogate family members, providing the support and guidance the community needs to build confidence in their ability to navigate the system and succeed in college.

• Veteran's Education - Porterville College is approved for the education of veterans eligible for educational benefits. As such, it will qualify veterans in attendance to obtain education subsidy and subsistence benefits under either federal or state laws. The College maintains contact with both the Veteran's Administration and the California Veteran's Affairs Office and will make arrangements for the service of veterans' guidance centers and for interviews between the veterans and representatives of veterans' agencies. 

• Wellness Center - The remodeled Wellness Center provides the community access to services/classes that promote physical, emotional, and social well-being. Also, the Wellness Center offers care services that address student health-related needs. 

• Early Alert - Early Alert provides the opportunity for faculty to identify students with academic and performance difficulties. First of all, the faculty needs to immediately send out an Early Alert email. This email will go to the student and the Early Alert counselor. Once the student receives the referral, the instructor will meet with the student.  This is followed by the counseling intervention.  The main benefit students receive is that after being referred, the student will immediately receive counseling assistance.  The counselor will discuss the concerns affecting the student's academic progress. The counselor provides information and counseling services based on the student's needs and makes sure to refer the student to other campus support services. Students are referred throughout the semester as a way to assist them and make sure they receive the services they need to be successful.

• Supplemental Instructor (SI) Leaders - SI leaders are students who have succeeded in a particular instructor's course and come back to model that behavior for other students.  The instructor chooses the SI leader and then the following semester, the SI leader attends all the classes, holds study sessions, meets with the instructor and SI coordinator, and goes to SI leader training and meetings.  Their purpose is to show students how they succeeded in a particular instructor's class by modeling study habits and leading study sessions.