Dr. Jill Biden’s efforts to increase the spotlight on community colleges nationwide may already be working.

In today’s USA Today, both Patrick Henry Community College and Northern Virginia Community College are featured in articles that highlight efforts to increase student achievement through programs such as Achieving the Dream.

Patrick Henry’s programs in emphasizing cooperative learning in first-time college students – and Northern Virginia’s emphasis on learning communities in developmental classes – are highlighted, along with an interview with Dr. Biden herself, who says:

A support network at all levels — academic, psychological, social and physical — is critical, especially for students whoa re the first members of their fmailies to enter college.

The Community College Survey of Student Engagement, designed to help community colleges boost student success, is measuring student engagement – and 220 community college nationwide are allowing data to be included in the USA Today’s database, including several Virginia Community Colleges.

Both colleges profiled are finding students in their support programs more likely to return to community college the next semester.