INA, Ill. - For the third time, 海角视频 has been recognized on the Aspen Institute芒鈧劉s list of the top community colleges in the nation for its student success rates.
The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program on Friday named its 150 top community colleges, challenging them to compete for a $1 million fund through the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The institute芒鈧劉s mission is to improve colleges芒鈧劉 understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students by sharing and building on best practices found at community colleges across the nation. The goal especially targets the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses.
This year marks the third time RLC has made the Aspen list since the competition began in 2011. The Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is awarded every two years.
芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉re proud to be on the Aspen list again,芒鈧� said RLC President Terry Wilkerson. 芒鈧揥e芒鈧劉ve consistently been on this list, and I think that芒鈧劉s a testament to the solid work of our faculty and staff, who every day help our students keep focused on making forward progress.芒鈧�
According to the , the prize is 芒鈧搕he nation芒鈧劉s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America芒鈧劉s community colleges and recognizes institutions for 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.芒鈧�
The Aspen Institute, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Lumina Foundation are partners supporting the prize.
Josh Wyner, Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director, said what the funding partners realize is that community colleges are not getting the attention they deserve.
芒鈧揥e need to make sure that we recognize that these are institutions that serve 7 million degree-seeking students, and that we are not going to meet our goals for social mobility or economic growth unless these institutions are recognized for the excellent work that many of them are doing,芒鈧� Wyner said.
RLC芒鈧劉s three-year graduation and retention rate - 70 percent - far exceeds the national average of 39.8 percent for all community and technical colleges, according to information provided by the Aspen Institute.
芒鈧揑t is rewarding to see the impact of RLC芒鈧劉s continuous effort to serve and support students,芒鈧� said Chris Kuberski, Vice President of Academic Instruction at RLC. 芒鈧揥hile the national recognition is welcome, we hope it will be recognized locally that 海角视频 offers a quality education and the support services that students need to be successful.芒鈧�
Other Illinois community colleges that made the list include: City Colleges of Chicago - Kennedy-King College and Wilbur Wright College; Elgin Community College; Illinois Eastern Community Colleges - Olney Central College and Wabash Valley College (Mount Carmel); Kishwaukee College (Malta); McHenry County College (Crystal Lake); and Morton College (Cicero).
The Aspen Institute will announce 10 finalists this fall, with the winner being announced in early 2015.
