SVC a Contender for $1M Prize

Skagit Valley College named a contender for $1 million Aspen Institute Prize

Skagit Valley College (SVC) has been named among the nation’s top 150 community colleges by the prestigious Aspen Institute and is now eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The Aspen Prize, awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. It recognizes exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

The Aspen Institute evaluated all 1,655 community and technical colleges in the country for enrollment and student success data each college submits to the Department of Education as well as U.S. Census Bureau data. From that data, SVC ranked in the top two of all colleges for the number of degrees and/or certificates awarded to full-time students of color.

“Skagit Valley College is proud to be named among the nation’s top community colleges by the Aspen Institute,” said SVC President Dr. Thomas Keegan. “It recognizes the College’s commitment to serving our increasingly diverse student population. In addition, it affirms our work in coordinating student success strategies, using data to identify barriers to academic success, and helping more students achieve their educational goals.”

The top 150 colleges were invited to compete in Round 2 by submitting extensive student success data on how well their students learn, complete degrees, and get jobs with competitive wages after graduating. Skagit’s application process provided an opportunity to analyze data and assessment measures from the perspective of a national external reviewer.

Ten finalists for the Aspen Prize will be named in fall 2014. The last round will include an onsite visit by Aspen Institute officials. Prize winners will be announced in early 2015.

The Aspen Prize is funded by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Joyce Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Lumina Foundation.

The Aspen College Excellence Program aims to identify and replicate practices and policies that significantly improve college student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the New College Leadership Project and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges’ and policy-makers’ understanding of what is needed to teach and graduate post-secondary students, especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The institute is based in Washington, D.C.; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners.

For more information about the Aspen Prize, visit this link.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.