East Mississippi Community College remains in the top 150 for the third time around.
The college was selected among the Aspen Institute’s list of community colleges, and is worthy to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, which is worth $1 million to the winning school. The prize is awarded every two years. EMCC has made the list twice before in 2014 and 2016. In 2016, the school made it to the second round. The 150 were selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 two-year colleges across the U.S.
"To be put in the top 150 and to be recognized for the last three cycles makes me very proud,” said EMCC President Thomas Huebner.
Huebner said the institute had asked for more information on EMCC, and in the past cycle had conducted an extensive phone interview with EMCC administration.
“It's really not a subjective recognition,” Huebner said. “It’s based on data, graduation rates and the success of our students.”
The Aspen Institute’s list recognizes outcomes in student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students. The top 10 finalists for the 2019 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2018, and representatives will visit the respective campuses. The grand prize winner will be announced in spring 2019.
“Especially in the current social and economic climate, it is exceptionally important that our nation's community colleges develop the diverse talent needed to fuel democratic engagement, social mobility, and economic opportunity and growth,” said Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner. “Through this competition we’re working to inspire other institutions across our country to ensure more students succeed in college and their lives beyond those campuses.”
Huebner also lauded EMCC’s faculty and staff for their role in getting EMCC to the top 150 for a third time.
“That EMCC has been included in the Aspen Institute’s Top 150 Community Colleges in the Nation list in recurring years shows that our commitment to excellence is paying off,” Huebner said. “I am proud of the efforts of so many and particularly pleased for our students, who are the beneficiaries of the EMCC team’s hard work.”