(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Feb. 5, 2016) - - - Highlighting the critical importance of improving student success in America's community colleges, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program recently named Columbia State Community College as one of the nation's top 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence and $1 million dollars in prize funds, as well as Siemens Technical Scholars Program student scholarships.

"The Aspen is the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among America's community colleges," said Dr. Janet F. Smith, Columbia State president. "Columbia State is the only Tennessee community college to be recognized in the Top 150. This recognition exemplifies our commitment to quality and student success and is an honor for the college and for the state of Tennessee."

The prize, awarded every two years, 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.

Nearly half of America's college students attend community college, with more than seven million students - traditional and adult learners - working towards certificates and degrees in these institutions across the country.

"Community colleges have tremendous power to change lives, and their success will increasingly define our nation's economic strength and the potential for social mobility in our country," said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program.

Wyner explained that the competition is designed to spotlight the excellent work being done in the most effective community colleges that best help students obtain meaningful, high-quality education and training for competitive-wage jobs after college.

"We hope it will raise the bar and provide a roadmap to better student outcomes for community colleges nationwide," Wyner continued.

Columbia State and 149 other community colleges announced were 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)

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

Columbia State has been invited to submit an application to the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence containing detailed data on degree and certificate completion (including progress and transfer rates), labor market outcomes (employment and earnings), and student learning outcomes.

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.

In addition, the 150 Prize-eligible institutions are also invited to nominate exceptional students enrolled in their best middle-skill STEM programs for scholarships. Up to 50 Siemens Technical Scholars will be selected from programs that provide outstanding preparation for high-demand jobs in manufacturing, energy, health care, and information technology. For more information, visit http://as.pn/stscholars.

The Aspen Prize is funded by the Joyce Foundation, the Siemens Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation.

The Aspen College Excellence Program aims to advance higher education practices, policies, and leadership that significantly improve student outcomes. Through the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the New College Leadership Project, and other initiatives, the College Excellence Program works to improve colleges' understanding and capacity to teach and graduate students, especially the growing population of low-income and minority students on American campuses. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/college-excellence.

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.