Highline among nation’s leading community colleges

Highline College has been named one of the nation's top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Wednesday, January 27, 2016 3:17pm
  • News
Jack Bermingham

Jack Bermingham

For the Reporter

Highline College has been named one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

The honor gives Highline the chance to compete for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds.

“Being recognized as one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation reflects Highline’s innovative efforts to support student access and attainment” said Dr. Jack Bermingham, president of Highline College. “My colleagues take great pride in their success in making a difference in the lives of our students, working together every day to create equitable and inclusive opportunities.”

The Aspen Prize is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. It recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and access and success for minority and low-income students.

Started in 2011, the Aspen Prize is awarded every two years. Washington two-year colleges have fared well in past competitions. In 2015, Renton Technical College was one of 10 finalists. In 2013, Walla Walla Community College was a co-winner with California’s Santa Barbara City College.

Highline, along with the other 149 community colleges, was selected from a national pool of more than 1,000 public two-year colleges using publicly available data on student outcomes in three areas:

• Performance: retention, graduation rates including transfers, and degrees and certificates per 100 full-time equivalent students.

• Improvement: awarded for steady improvement in each performance metric over time.

• Equity: evidence of strong completion outcomes for minority and low-income students.

Nearly half of America’s college students attend community college, with more than seven million students – youth and adult learners – working toward certificates and degrees in these institutions across the country.

Ten finalists will be named in fall 2016. 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 and a few finalists with distinction in early 2017.

Nine other Washington colleges are among the top 150, recognizing the state’s strong two-year system:

• Columbia Basin College

• Clark College

• Everett Community College

• Olympic College

• Pierce College-Fort Stellacoom

• Renton Technical College

• South Puget Sound Community College

• Tacoma Community College

• Whatcom Community College

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


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Courtesy Photo, King County
Prolific tagger faces charges for damage to Kent water tower

Man one of dozens who reportedly tagged properties across King County, including West Hill tower

t
Federal Way man charged in Kent I-5 crash that killed passenger

Documents state that evidence reportedly showed he was the driver, but he blamed the passenger.

The Kent Police Department went all out with their “Moana” themed display - even Maui showed up. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
The Hogwarts Express pulls into Battle of the Badges | Photos

The 2024 Battle of the Badges took over the Renton Technical College on Dec. 14.

Kent Police Chief Rafael Padilla. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent Police
City of Kent crime numbers drop in 2024 compared to 2023

Vehicle thefts, commercial burglaries and robberies see big decreases

Courtesy Photo, Kent School District
Kent School District says it ‘will do better next time’ with school closures

Late notifications issued about closures after Dec. 18 windstorm

t
Kent Police arrest pair for downtown robbery of pedestrian

Reportedly used pepper spray to attack Kent man, 56, as he walked on sidewalk Dec. 16

Meeker Middle School, one of six schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Kent School District due to power outages from a windstorm. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Windstorm causes closure of six Kent schools due to power outages

Four elementary, two middle schools closed Wednesday, Dec. 18; couple of city roads closed

Volunteers wrap gifts during the 2023 Toys for Joy program. COURTESY PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Puget Sound Fire puts out plea for more Toys for Joy donations

Toys needed for children ages 9 to 12; more bikes, scooters requested; deadline is Dec. 20

t
Kent man, 19, faces multiple charges after pursuit near Wenatchee

Driver reportedly fails to stop for state trooper, crashes stolen vehicle along State Route 97

Kent School District Board Director Awale Farah, left, and Superintendent Israel Vela at a high school graduation last summer. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Awale Farah resigns immediately from Kent School Board

Says because of ‘family commitments’ he cannot fulfill rest of his term that expires in November 2025

t
Kent’s Lower Russell Levee project receives John Spellman Award

City, King County Flood District and other partners recognized for historic preservation

Northwood Middle School, 17007 SE 184th St., in unincorporated part of King County in Renton and part of the Kent School District. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Calls about man trying to access Northwood Middle School causes lockdown

Deputies arrest man for investigation of resisting arrest, obstruction at Kent School District property