Indian Hills ranks in top 120 of nation?s community colleges

OTTUMWA ? In its first step to identify the nation?s best community colleges and award $1 million in prize money, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program today ranked Indian Hills Community College as one of the nation?s 120 best community colleges, challenging it to compete for the prize funds by insisting on high standards for learning, college completion without delay and serving as a training ground for jobs that pay competitive wages.

Citing the urgent need to focus on the value and potential of community colleges, Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner said, ?We must set the bar much higher than we have in the past. To achieve excellent student outcomes, we need to highlight our country?s success stories and learn from them so that we can keep reaching higher.?

Wyner added, ?Recognizing community colleges like Indian Hills sends a message to others that aspire to excellence, while encouraging Indian Hills to apply for the nation?s top community college prize. As a country, now more than ever, we need all community colleges to graduate more students with the knowledge and degrees they need to be successful in the workforce.?

Second lady Jill Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan attended the Aspen Institute?s announcement event today. The Aspen Prize was announced at the White House Community College Summit hosted Biden and President Obama in October. At that time, the president noted how critical community colleges are to the millions of youth and adult learners who enroll in Americaís nearly 1,200 community colleges every year.

Biden, a lifelong educator who continues to teach English at Northern Virginia Community College, noted that, ?The country is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of community colleges in educating our way to a stronger America. I am inspired by all of today?s community college students ? the workers who have returned to school to improve their job prospects, the mothers who juggle jobs and childcare while preparing for new careers and those who work diligently while at community college, preparing to transfer to a four-year institution.?

Indian Hills and 119 other community colleges will be winnowed to eight-to-10 finalists in September based on how much students learn, how many complete their programs on time, and how well students do in the job market after graduating.

Indian Hills is now eligible to submit an application containing detailed data on these criteria. Indian Hills must demonstrate that it delivers exceptional student results, uses data to drive decisions, and uses that information to continually improve over time.

Speaking for the jury that will select winners and finalists, John Engler, former governor of Michigan, president of the Business Roundtable and former president of the National Association of Manufacturers, emphasized the tremendous importance of community colleges in preparing the high-tech workforce American companies need.

Aspen will conduct site visits to each of the 10 finalists in the fall. And, based on the evidence, the Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner and two to three runners-up, to be announced in December.