PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Northern Maine Community College has been cited by the Aspen Institute College Excellence program as one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges for its commitment to student success and community college excellence. The designation means NMCC is eligible to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million in prize funds. The Aspen Prize, awarded every two years, is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance from among more than 1,000 community colleges in the country. The program recognizes institutions for exceptional student outcomes in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.
“We are extremely proud to be selected and counted among this elite group of community colleges which brings well-deserved attention to our exceptional faculty,” said NMCC President Timothy Crowley. “We are grateful that the Aspen program honors community colleges for the important role we have in society. Nearly half of America’s college students, some 7 million, attend community college across the country. NMCC is anxious to compete to be among the 10 Aspen finalists.”
NMCC will complete a written application containing detailed data on degree/certificate completion, labor market outcomes (employment and earnings), and student learning outcomes. The finalists will be named this fall. A distinguished prize jury will select a grand prize winner and a few finalists with distinction in early 2015.
