FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (December 8, 2023) – Once again, The Aspen Institute has named Broward College one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.

In 2023, Broward College achieved noteworthy distinction by securing its place as one of the top 10 finalists among more than 1,000 community and state colleges nationwide, as recognized by the Aspen Institute. This commendable feat marked the College’s fifth inclusion in the finalist list over the past decade, underscoring its consistent dedication to excellence in education. The institutions selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and consistently improving levels of student success as well as outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds.

“Broward College is honored to be counted among the finest higher education institutions in the country and thrilled to be eligible for the 2025 Aspen Prize,” said Broward College President Dr. Barbara J. Bryan. “Our inclusion in this prestigious group is a testament to the commitment and dedication of our faculty, staff, and community partners, who have built a student-centered environment in relentless pursuit of the College’s mission to transform lives through quality post-secondary education that will shape the future for generations to come.”

The Aspen Prize spotlights exemplary community colleges to drive attention to institutions achieving post-graduate success for all students, and it is a central way the Aspen Institute researches highly effective student success strategies that are shared with the field. The 150 eligible colleges have been invited to submit student success data and narratives about strategies to achieve better and more equitable student outcomes as the next step in an intensive review process that culminates in the naming of the Aspen Prize winner in spring 2025.

The eligible colleges represent the diversity and depth of the community college sector. Located in urban, rural, and suburban areas across 30 states, these colleges serve as few as 169 students and as many as 49,619.

While community colleges are an essential contributor to our nation’s success, student outcomes vary substantially among institutions. The Aspen Institute measures those variances using multiple data sources and recognizes colleges with outstanding achievement in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, equitable access to the college, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

In this first round, eligibility for the Aspen Prize is based on publicly available data. Colleges must show strong, improving, and equitable student outcomes in first-to-second year retention, credentials awarded, and completion and transfer rates. Nationwide, about 15 percent of community colleges have been invited to apply (150 of approximately 1,000 public two-year colleges assessed for Prize eligibility). The full list can be accessed on the Aspen Prize homepage.

The next steps in the process include:

• April 2024: Announcement of 25 semifinalists, selected based on assessments of extensive data and strategy documents by the Prize selection panel, a group of 16 experts in community colleges, higher education, and workforce training, followed by interviews with institutional leadership teams
• June 2024: Announcement of 10 finalists, selected by the Prize selection panel
• Fall 2024: Site visits to each of the 10 finalists, during which the Aspen Institute and partners will collect additional information, including employment and earnings data and insights about promising practices
• January 2025: Prize award decisions made by distinguished, independent Prize jury at full day meeting
• Spring 2025: Announcement of the Aspen Prize winner and celebration of the 10 finalists in Washington, D.C.

For a full list of the top 150 eligible institutions and to read more on the selection process, visit https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/.

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