NIACC is one of 20 Community Colleges Being Considered for a $1 Million National Prize that Recognizes Excellence in Student Outcomes, Both in College and After Graduation
The Aspen Institute has named North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) as a semifinalist for the 2025 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The $1 million award is the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. The institutions 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 lower-income backgrounds.
NIACC President Steve Schulz expressed great pride in NIACC’s recognition as a semifinalist for the prestigious Aspen Award, saying, “Being named a semifinalist for the Aspen Award is a tremendous honor. This achievement reflects the dedication and exceptional commitment of our faculty and staff. It is a testament to our mission to enrich lives through education and highlights the high standards of excellence we aim to maintain at NIACC.”
Awarded every two years, the Aspen Prize honors colleges with outstanding performance in six critical areas: teaching and learning, certificate and degree completion, transfer and bachelor’s attainment, workforce success, broad access to the college and its offerings, and equitable outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds. The winner will be announced in the spring of 2025.
To read more on the selection process, visit
https://highered.aspeninstitute.org/aspen-prize/.
