The Florida Department of Education announced today that Miami Dade College and Indian River State College were awarded the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The Aspen Prize is awarded every other year and honors colleges who stand out in four areas of student success: performance and improvements in learning, degree completion, employment and earnings, and access and success for minority and low-income students. The $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence is one of the nation’s premier recognition programs of high achievement and performance among America’s community colleges.
FDOE Press Release
The Aspen Institute was founded in 1949 as a nonpartisan forum for values-based leadership and the exchange of ideas. As part of their College Excellence Program, the Aspen Institute created the “Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence” to identify the top community colleges in the United States. Florida is one of only two states with multiple finalists this year, and the third time a Florida College System institution has earned the award. Miami Dade College was also a 2011 Finalist-with-Distinction.
“This award is an affirmation of what we’ve been aspiring to for so many years at Miami Dade College, mainly to ensure open access and academic excellence can go hand-in-hand.”
Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, Miami Dade College’s president
Congratulations Miami Dade College!