Southeast, Mitchell Technical Colleges named one of 150 colleges to compete in Aspen Prize

Southeast Technical College and Mitchell Technical College have been named one of 150 institutions eligible to compete for a $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The prize recognizes high and improving levels of student success, and “equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from lower-income backgrounds,” according to a press release from STC.

Nearly 1,000 institutions were considered for this prize, putting STC and MTC among the top two-year colleges in the nation to be named to the top 150, which range from urban and rural colleges in 30 states.

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STC President Bob Griggs said in a press release that STC is honored to receive this recognition, which “really speaks to the quality of education we offer to all students.”

Eligibility for the Aspen Prize was based on publicly available data showing strong, improving, and equitable student outcomes in first-to-second year retention, credentials awarded, and completion and transfer rates, according to a press release.

From this point, the 150 eligible colleges can submit their student success data and information about their strategies for better and more equitable student outcomes as the next step in the review process.

By April, 25 semi finalists will be announced based on the data and strategy documents each college submits. Ten finalists will be named by June, and each college will be visited by the Aspen Institute and its partners in the fall before the winner is announced in Washington D.C. in spring 2025.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: STC, MTC competing in Aspen Prize