Achieving the Dream leads the most comprehensive non-governmental reform network for community college student success. Several MDRC experts are presenting at the Achieving the Dream 2026 Conference in Portland, Oregon, March 2–5:

Wednesday, March 4, 2:45–3:45 PM

Analyzing and Optimizing Educational Technology Platforms to Increase College Access

Automated and mass-messaging platforms can efficiently deliver timely and relevant information to learners, especially when paired with human-centered design and responsive processes. This session shares insights from a research-practitioner partnership between MDRC and Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to optimize a statewide chatbot that aims to support low-income students with financial aid and college access.

• Sophia Sutcliffe, MDRC
• Kasey Eickmeyer, MDRC

Thursday, March 5, 9:00–10:00 AM

Cutting-Edge Research in Rural Community Colleges

In these changing times for higher education, how can rural community colleges continue to advance? In this presentation, a team of researchers working together through MDRC’s National Rural Higher Education Research Center will share new findings about three vital topics for community colleges: dual enrollment, college access, and college completion programming.

• Makoto Toyoda, MDRC
• Alyssa Ratledge, MDRC
• Sabrina Klein, MDRC