Queensborough Community College (QCC) is promoting student success through its multi-year partnership with ACUE.
Before she became the president of Queensborough Community College (QCC), Christine Mangino, EdD, first began her career in education as a teacher. “Teaching is an art and a science, but there are tools and tricks and science behind how to help students learn,” Dr. Mangino says. “Being able to provide that for faculty on our campus is so important to me.”
For more than 50 years, QCC has focused on a holistic approach to ensuring the success of their students—fostering a comprehensive ecosystem of programs and partnerships, with faculty development serving as one lever among many.
To support faculty development, QCC has engaged in a multi-year partnership with the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE), a collaboration that is elevating faculty practice and driving measurable gains in student success.
This effort has earned QCC recognition as a 2025 Movement Maker—a distinction that honors institutions leading with courage, compassion, and evidence-based innovation. QCC’s work also signals something bigger: a drive to elevate teaching as the most powerful lever for improving student outcomes.
A Vision for Student Success
As a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), QCC serves more than 11,000 students representing the extensive diversity of Queens, New York—also known as “The World’s Borough.”
In recent years, QCC’s internal data revealed persistent gaps in course completion, retention, and DFW rates for key student populations. The college needed a scalable, research-driven approach to strengthening teaching across its broad range of academic programs. ACUE’s nationally recognized Certification in Effective Teaching provided a clear path.
Through the partnership, QCC faculty gain access to ACUE’s Certification course, rooted in evidence-based strategies they can immediately apply in their classrooms. “Seeing our investment in faculty development translate into real student success is deeply rewarding,” says Dr. Mangino. “Our faculty’s dedication to teaching excellence through ACUE is transforming lives.”
Energizing Faculty and Elevating Practice
For many QCC instructors, the ACUE experience has been reinvigorating. Reflecting on her own growth, Gail Lewis, Lecturer Certificate of Continuous Employment (CCE), shared that ACUE), shared that ACUE provided the tools, structure, and research foundation she needed to deepen her craft across media, communication, and theater. “I feel like ACUE really speaks to me, and it informs everything I do in the classroom,” Lewis says.
This sentiment is echoed across campus. Before ACUE, 66% of participating faculty reported using evidence-based strategies informed by research. After completing the
certification, that number rose to an impressive 95%.
Faculty also reported:
- A leap from 82% to 98% in their belief that instructors shape how students perceive their own intelligence
- A dramatic increase from 49% to 91% in their use of student feedback to adjust instruction
- A noticeable boost in classroom confidence and a renewed passion for teaching
Many faculty describe feeling more prepared, more connected to their students, and more energized by their work. “Most college faculty aren’t trained as instructors,” says Kevin Kolack, PhD, Doctoral Lecturer in Chemistry. “Taking advantage of professional development opportunities like this is really a necessity.”
Evidence of High-Impact Learning
The most compelling measure of this partnership is the difference it makes for students. A three-year study conducted by ACUE using data from QCC found that students taught by ACUE-certified faculty achieved:
- 6% higher course pass rates
- 8% higher overall grades
- 17% fewer Ds, Fs, or Withdrawals (DFWs)
The gains were strongest for students who have historically faced the steepest educational barriers. Black/African American students saw a 22% reduction in DFW rates, demonstrating how effective teaching can advance equity and close institutional gaps. These outcomes reaffirm a growing body of research: When faculty use validated, high-impact instructional practices, student success improves.
Read the full Case Study here.
A Commitment of Excellence
Representing more than professional development, the scale of engagement at QCC represents a cultural shift. To date:
- 65% of instructional staff have participated in ACUE courses.
- Nearly one-third have completed the Certification in Effective Teaching.
- 99% of participating faculty report that the coursework is engaging and relevant to their roles.
QCC is building a community of educators united by shared language, strategies, and commitment to student belonging and success.
Faculty also appreciate that the college recognizes their time, effort, and dedication. “It means the world that our work in teaching excellence is seen. It’s a recognition of the tireless labor of many of our faculty and staff in making sure that students feel seen and centered in the work at the college,” says Amaris Matos, EdD, Assistant Vice President for Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. “Teaching excellence is a commitment that we have for every student.”
Looking Ahead: Building on the Foundations of Equity and Opportunity
QCC’s partnership with ACUE shows what is possible when an institution invests deeply in its faculty. The results are visible not only in metrics but in the lived experiences of students who feel more supported, more confident, and more capable of achieving their goals.
“When I see students who talk about having found their voice, having found the confidence or the belief in their voice, those are the moments that I’m most proud of,” says Christi Saindon, PhD, Associate Professor of Communication, Theatre, and Media Production.
As QCC continues to expand its efforts, the college is building a resilient model of teaching excellence that other community colleges can learn from—an unwavering focus on meeting the needs of their students.
Energized by the results, QCC has launched an internal data review to more fully understand the impact their efforts are having on student success. While the review is ongoing, early data points to positive results.
While studies and research help cement the results, sometimes the words of dedicated faculty like Dr. Kolack say even more: “Thank you to Queensborough for providing the opportunity to take the ACUE classes, and thank you to ACUE for developing them.”
