Retain, education, assess, care, and help (reach) is a student intervention model for retention and success specifically designed to support the success of all new students

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education awarded Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) $619,093.00 under the Higher Education Institutional Aid program (CFDA 84.031) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The award funds the REACH (Retain, Education, Assess, Care, and Help) student intervention model, a comprehensive retention and success initiative designed to support all new students enrolled at the institution. This project-based funding directly aligns with the statutory purpose of the Higher Education Institutional Aid program to strengthen institutional management, fiscal operations, and academic quality while supporting student success at eligible postsecondary institutions.

The REACH model represents CCAC's strategic commitment to student retention through multi-faceted intervention strategies that integrate education, assessment, care coordination, and support services for incoming students. As a community college serving diverse student populations including underrepresented minorities and low-income individuals in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region, CCAC's implementation of this intervention model supports the federal government's priorities in institutional capacity-building and student success at institutions serving vulnerable populations. The funding enables CCAC to develop and deliver targeted support services that address retention barriers and enhance completion rates among its new student cohort.