ACE is a new program at GCC that provides students with opportunities to learn as part of a community. ACE is designed for students who enter GCC not yet ready for college-level English and/or math but who nonetheless want to transfer to a four-year university in two years. For four semesters (fall and spring of the freshman and sophomore years), ACE students take a block of courses together, guided by instructors who collaborate to provide an integrated curriculum. Winter and summer sessions are left unscheduled, giving students freedom to take electives or courses required for particular majors.

Advantages of being part of the ACE learning community:

·        A summer bridge program that helps first-year students prepare for college, take field trips to cultural sites and four-year universities, and develop friendships within the ACE community

·        A team of faculty from different disciplines who work together to integrate course content and uncover connections between subjects often viewed as unrelated

·        Guaranteed enrollment in all ACE courses

·        A two-year transfer track, with assistance from an ACE counselor to select a college major, choose electives, and make efficient progress toward transfer

·        Access to the ACE study area and mobile computer lab

·        A sense of belonging in ACE—a community within the larger GCC community

·        A ready-made support system that includes supplemental instruction, tutoring, and mentoring