IVC remains in running for $1M award

Imperial Valley College announced Wednesday that it remains in the running for a $1 million national prize for excellence among community colleges.

IVC said the Aspen Institute announce on April 27 that it is among the 25 semifinalists for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. It described the prize as the nation’s signature recognition of community colleges that are achieving high, improving and equitable outcomes for students.

Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with 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 prize selection process began this past October, when the Aspen Institute invited 150 community colleges to apply, based on data showing strong and improving student outcomes in key areas such as retention, completion, transfer and equity. Applications went to a diverse selection committee of 16 higher education experts who reviewed extensive data and application narratives.

Next, the committee will review interviews with leadership teams and narrow this selection of 25 semifinalists to 10 finalists, to be announced in early June 2022.

The winner will be announced in spring 2023.

“I am so proud of each one of our Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff who have been committed to putting students first, changing and adding programs to best meet students’ needs, and delivering education with care and compassion,” said Lennor Johnson, superintendent and president of Imperial Valley College.

For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.