Manatee Review

$1 million prize recognizes outstanding community colleges from across the nation

Today the Aspen Institute named Broward College one of the ten finalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence—an honor that follows Broward's recognition as an Aspen Prize Finalist in 2021 (with distinction), 2019, 2017 (with distinction), and 2013.

Started in 2010, the $1 million Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of community colleges that are achieving high, improving, and equitable outcomes for students. The ten finalists represent the amazing potential of America’s more than one thousand community colleges as engines of prosperity and social mobility.

The finalists also represent the impressive diversity of community colleges, from a 2,700-student college in Iowa granting primarily technical awards to a 57,000-student college in Florida with a focus on transfer and bachelor’s degree attainment. No matter their size or location, excellent community colleges, like Broward College, are defined by their focus on outcomes and how they develop the talents of their students in ways that strengthen their regional economies and communities.

"It's a tremendous honor to have Broward College named one of the ten finalists for the 2023 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence," said Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. "This recognition is a tribute to our community's many champions for expanding opportunity, prosperity, and economic mobility.  With humility, we could not be more grateful for the people of Broward College, and the partners in service throughout our community.  With acknowledgments like this, we know we are fulfilling our mission and commitment to the students and community we serve. Thank you."

Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges that show outstanding performance in five critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. The winner will be announced in the spring of 2023.

“We’re grateful to all the experts who have helped Aspen identify these impressive colleges,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We can’t wait to dive in to learn more about how they have achieved these measurable student outcomes so we can share what we learn with the field.”

See the full list of finalists here: as.pn/prize

The Aspen Prize selection process began in October 2021, when the Aspen Institute worked with an expert data panel to craft a formula to assess student outcomes at nearly 1,000 community colleges in key areas such as retention, completion, transfer, and equity. Based on those data, we invited 150 top community colleges to apply, and received 19 applications. A selection committee of 16 higher education experts reviewed applications, including extensive data and narratives on student success strategies. From the 25 highest ranking colleges, announced as semifinalists in April, the committee met in May to choose the 10 Aspen Prize finalists.

Next steps include:

• Fall 2022: Additional data gathered on student outcomes, including in employment after college; multi-day site visits to each of the 10 finalists to gather insights about effective practices
• Winter of 2023: A distinguished jury decides the Aspen Prize winner, based on quantitative data and qualitative information from each of the 10 finalists.
• Late spring 2023: Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner

Original source can be found here.