Brightpoint Community College Selected for National Initiative

Primary Media Contact:

Holly Walker
Director of Communications and Public Relations
804-594-1530

Secondary Media Contact:

Heather Busch
Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy
804-594-1532

CHESTER and MIDLOTHIAN, Va. – Brightpoint Community College is proud to announce that it has been selected by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national reform network committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility, to participate in a new nationwide effort to help state and college higher education systems scale the adoption of shortened academic terms.

The Scaling Shortened Academic Terms initiative, funded by Ascendium Education Group, will support participating colleges — all of which have already taken steps toward implementing shortened terms — in accelerating their progress as a strategy to improve student outcomes and align academic structures with the complex needs of today’s learners.

Traditional 15-week semesters can pose barriers for students who balance college with work, family, and other responsibilities. Shortened academic terms offer a flexible, evidence-informed alternative that allows students to focus on fewer courses at a time, maintain momentum, and complete credentials more quickly. Research and institutional experience show that well-designed short-term structures can boost course completion rates, increase persistence, and strengthen student confidence.

Scaling such models, however, requires intentional design, strong student supports, and alignment with institutional goals. The Scaling Shortened Academic Terms initiative addresses these challenges directly — helping colleges build the capacity to design, implement, and sustain shortened terms in ways that advance student success and expand the field’s evidence base for effective reform. Through targeted coaching, professional development, cross-state learning, and data-informed decision-making, ATD will help participating colleges embed and sustain shortened term formats in ways that enhance student momentum and credential attainment.

The Community College Research Center (CCRC) at Teachers College, Columbia University, will lead a comprehensive external evaluation of the initiative to deepen the evidence base on effective design and implementation of shortened academic terms.

“This initiative reflects the kind of whole-college transformation ATD supports across our Network,” said ATD President and CEO Dr. Karen A. Stout. “By working with states and institutions already leading this change, we can scale structures that help students — especially adults and working learners — build momentum and achieve their goals. Equally important, the evaluation led by the Community College Research Center will provide the evidence the field needs to understand which students benefit most, what conditions enable success, and how to sustain these models over time. Together with our partners and Ascendium’s support, we are expanding both the evidence and the capacity needed to make shortened terms a sustainable part of student success strategies nationwide.”

“We are excited to be selected for this national initiative,” said Dr. Bill Fiege, president of Brightpoint Community College. “Brightpoint Community College is committed to providing quality educational opportunities for all, and we understand the importance of meeting our students where they are. Many students juggle multiple responsibilities, including family and jobs, and we strive to provide them with scheduling opportunities and services that support their needs. We look forward to building upon our long-standing efforts to provide students with shortened class options that better work within their busy lives and supports their academic success.”

To learn more about the Scaling Shortened Academic Terms initiative, visit the website.

About Brightpoint Community College 
Brightpoint Community College, one of the largest institutions in the Virginia Community College System, envisions a success story for every student. Brightpoint offers students a high-quality, high-value education, with more than 80 majors that provide pathways to careers in in-demand fields; transfer opportunities to four-year colleges and universities; and industry credentials and licensures. The college, with campuses in Chester and Midlothian, online classes, and off-campus classrooms, served 12,686 students during the 2024-25 academic year. It also assisted 4,200 learners through Community College Workforce Alliance, the shared workforce division of Brightpoint and Reynolds community colleges.

About Achieving the Dream (ATD)
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. Follow ATD on X (Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. To learn more, visit the Achieving the Dream (ATD) website.