Fox Valley Technical College has been selected as one of 150 colleges eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The colleges selected for this honor stand out among more than 1,000 community colleges nationwide as having high and improving levels of student success, as well as equitable outcomes for Black and Hispanic students and those from a lower-income background.

“Our students are always at the forefront, and the work of all of our faculty and staff is really aimed at supporting student learning and successful outcomes,” said Dr. Chris Matheny, president of Fox Valley Technical College. “We are honored to have our work recognized by the Aspen Institute and committed to continuing to provide our students and communities with a nationally recognized educational experience.”

The Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding achievement in five critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, and equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds.

“In an era of persistent inequity and workforce talent gaps, our nation’s best community colleges are stepping up to deliver more degrees to increasingly diverse students,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “Leaders of exceptional community colleges understand that achieving excellence requires expanding college access, increasing degree completion and ensuring all students graduate with the skills needed.”

The 150 eligible colleges, including FVTC, have been invited to submit data and narratives as the next step in the review process. A list of top ten finalists will be announced in spring/summer 2022. Those finalists will host site visits from The Aspen Institute in fall 2022. The recipient of the $1 million prize will be announced in spring 2023.