Herkimer College is an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College Recognized for Excellence in Community College Student Success Outcomes

Herkimer County Community College has been named one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges. Herkimer College was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize.

“Community colleges play a critical educational, social and economic development role in our nation and our communities. It is an honor to be named among the most effective community colleges in the nation,” said Herkimer College President Cathleen C. McColgin.

Awarded every two years since 2011, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning; certificate and degree completion; employment and earnings; and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

A full list of the selected colleges and details on the selection process are available at www.aspenprize.org.

Herkimer College will move forward to the next round of the competition for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence by submitting an application to be reviewed through a rigorous evaluation for a spot on the top ten Aspen Prize finalists list. Top ten finalists will be named in May 2018. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists and collect additional quantitative data. A distinguished Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner, finalist(s) with distinction, and rising star(s) in spring 2019.