The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program has named Ozarks Technical Community College and Crowder College, of Neosho, among its list of the Top 120 community colleges in the country.
Colleges on the list were selected from a pool of nearly 1,200 colleges using public data based on student outcomes, such as completion, performance, improvement and equity, according to a news release from the Aspen Institute. The institute is a Washington, D.C.-based bipartisan, nonprofit think tank that focuses on fostering value-based leadership and societal improvements via seminars, fellowships, programs and conferences.
“Unprecedented numbers of students are choosing to attend community college as the cost of four-year college grows increasingly out of reach for many families in America," Josh Wyner, Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program executive director, said in the release. "To ensure student success and fuel economic growth for communities and the nation, community colleges must - now more than ever - make a commitment to excellence and stronger student outcomes.”
In addition to recognition, the named community colleges also are eligible for $1 million in funding via the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, a partnership of the Aspen Institute, the Joyce and Lumina foundations, and the charity arms of Bank of America and JP Morgan Chase.
An Aspen Institute-selected jury will choose 10 finalists for the prize; the winner would receive approximately $700,000, and two to three runners up also would be selected, according to the release.
Crowder College President Alan Marble said the recognition shows the school's dedication to serving the educational needs of the community.
"This recognition reflects very positively on the dedication and hard work of our talented faculty, staff and student body," he said in a separate news release.
OTC President Hal Higdon issued similar sentiment.
“This recognition is a great honor, and we are pleased to be included among the selected institutions,” he said a news release. “To be named one of the top ... community colleges in the country is a significant statement on the quality education, the dedicated faculty and staff, and the strong student support programs that we strive to provide for our community.”
Other Missouri community colleges
recognized by the Aspen Institute are Metropolitan Community College - Business and Technology, of Kansas City; Linn State Technical College, of Linn; North Central Missouri College, of Trenton; and Missouri State University-West Plains.
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