The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds, The Aspen Institute wrote in a news release.
“We are pleased that the work of Hinds Community College’s dedicated employees has been validated with the recognition that Hinds is in the top 150 community colleges,” said Hinds President Dr. Stephen Vacik.
“Now we roll up our sleeves and show the good work we’re doing to serve our community and help our students find their purpose, passion and profession.”
The Aspen Prize spotlights exemplary community colleges in order to drive attention to colleges achieving post-graduate success for all students and is a central way Aspen researches highly effective student success strategies that are shared with the field.
“These 150 colleges have achieved high and improving levels of student success for all students, including those who are often failed by our institutions,” said
Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We’re excited to learn over the coming months how they achieved that success so we can share the most impressive practices with others in the field.”
The 150 eligible colleges have been invited to submit student success data and narratives about strategies to achieve better and more equitable student outcomes as the next step in an intensive review process that culminates in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2025.
