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PCC Named Finalist for Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
Education Sep 15, 2016
- Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News
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PCC was heralded as a leader in improving academic performance of minority students, particularly in the STEM fields. – Courtesy photo
Pasadena City College (PCC) was named one of 10 finalists for the 2017 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, widely recognized as the nation’s premier honor for high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges.
PCC, which educates nearly 30,000 students at its campuses in Pasadena and Rosemead, was heralded as a leader in improving academic performance of minority students and providing pathways to university education and career success.
“Pasadena City College has made incredible strides in closing the achievement gap for minority students, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Not only are PCC’s STEM programs dominated by Latino students, but women and first-generation students are also highly represented,” said Joshua Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program in Washington, D.C. “This reflects the college’s strong demonstrated commitment to making sure all students succeed both while in college and in promising careers after they graduate.”
The program highlighted the following areas in PCC’s qualifications for the recognition:
– A graduation/transfer rate of 49 percent, well above the national average of 39 percent.
– A program that fast-tracks graduation by providing priority registration to students who are only a few courses short of completing their degree.
– First among California community colleges for the number of associate degrees for transfer awarded, for the number of associate degrees awarded, and for the number of associate degrees awarded to minorities.
“This is an incredible honor for the faculty, staff, administration, and students of PCC,” said Rajen Vurdien, Ph.D., superintendent-president of Pasadena City College. “Our college has made enormous strides in serving the broad range of students that come to our campus, more than 75 percent of which are minority students and 43 percent are the first in their family to attend college.
“Much work remains to be done,” Vurdien continued, “but this recognition shows that our efforts are having an impact.”
The $1 million prize fund will be awarded in March 2017 in Washington, D.C. to the winner and up to four finalists with distinction.
