Success with student outcomes wins 2 Florida community colleges Aspen Prize

Two Florida community colleges won top awards Tuesday from The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program based on their graduation and transfer rates and students' success in the workforce. Miami Dade College, which enrolls about 96,000 students, and Indian River State College, which enrolls about 24,300 students, each received $350,000 as winners of the Aspen Prize, which has been awarded every other year since 2011. Three other colleges — Odessa College and Palo Alto College, both in Texas, and Pierce College Fort Steilacoom, in Washington state — received $100,000 each for winning the Rising Star award, which recognizes colleges that have dramatically improved student outcomes. The Aspen Institute singled out the two award winners for accomplishments that often rank among the top priorities of community colleges across the country, including mapping clear pathways for students to transfer to a four-year institution, providing supports to help learners continue their education and serving a diverse population. At Miami Dade, students have access to credential maps, which provide stackable credential pathways they can follow for different fields and careers. The college also pairs these guided pathways with strong advising.