Warrior Magazine December 2019

ECCC named a Top 150 U.S. Community College eligible for ’21 Aspen Prize

The Aspen Institute College

rates, and degree completion have improved at the top tier of the 150 Aspen Prize-eligible colleges. “Community colleges play a vital role in developing talent and enabling social mobility across the country, and it’s critical for them to get better at what they do,” said Josh Wyner,

Excellence Program named East Central Community College as one of the 150 community col leges in the nation eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the sig nature recognition of high achieve ment and perfor

ECCC faculty, staff member of year honored

ECCC pre sented new awards to start the new academic year on campus in August to recognize the college’s faculty and staff mem ber of the year. Regena Boykin of Conehatta, as sociate director of information Excellence with Class Award as the outstanding staff member and a $500 check from the ECCC Founda tion. Boykin has been employed at ECCC since 2003. Chemistry Instructor Amy Denson of Deca technology, received the

mance among com munity colleges in the United States. Based on strong and improv ing in student outcomes—includ ing in learning, completion rates, employment rates and earnings, and equity—15 percent of commu nity colleges nationwide have been invited to apply for the Aspen Prize, which is awarded every two years. “What an incredible honor to be recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the 150 best community colleges in the nation,” said Dr. Billy Stewart, president of East Central Community College. “This recogni tion, which focuses on the success of our students, is a direct result of the commitments we made as an institution in 2020 Vision and a ful fillment of our vision to be nation ally recognized.” The 150 community colleges named today as eligible to com pete for the 2021 Aspen Prize were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide using publicly available data on stu dent outcomes. Located in 39 states in urban, rural, and suburban areas, serving as few as 500 students and as many as 75,000 students, these colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. Data show that over the last two years, student retention, graduation

executive direc tor of the Aspen Institute College

Excellence Program. “We’re pleased to see evidence that these institu tions are improving, that more are delivering on their promise. We’re also pleased to play a role in honor ing outstanding community colleges and sharing what works to ensure great outcomes for students— through graduation and beyond.” The top ten finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2020. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quan titative data, including employment and earnings data. A distinguished jury will make award decisions in spring 2021. Previous winners of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excel lence are: Miami Dade College (Fla.) and Indian River State College (Fla.), 2019; Lake Area Technical College (S.D.), 2017; Santa Fe College (Fla.), 2015; Santa Barbara City College (Calif.) and Walla Walla Community College (Wash.), 2013; and Valencia College (Fla.), 2011. Seven community colleges in Mis sissippi made the top 150. For a full list of the top 150 eligible institu tions and to read more on the selec tion process, visit www.highered. aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize.

Boykin

Denson

tur received the Excellence in Teaching & Learning Award as the outstanding faculty member and a $500 check from the ECCC Alumni Association. Denson joined the ECCC faculty in 2013. The awards were presented at the 2019 Faculty and Staff Convocation held in Huff Auditorium on campus.

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