HCTC named as one of top 120 in country

Hazard Community and Technical College has been named one of 120 community colleges in the nation eligible to compete in the 2013 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

Highlighting the critical importance of improving student success in America s community colleges, the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program named 120 top community colleges on April 22. The Aspen Institute identified the 120 community colleges -- 10 percent of all institutions -- using a quantitative formula that assesses performance and improvement in four areas: graduation rates, degrees awarded, student retention rates, and equity in student outcomes. These colleges will now compete for the prestigious honor following a year-long research process into how well their students learn, complete degrees, and get jobs with competitive wages after graduating. A full list of the 120 community colleges is available at www.AspenPrize.org. Prize winners will be announced in March 2013.

HCTC President Dr. Steve Greiner said the recognition is attributed to a great team of HCTC employees working together. Student success is our highest priority in our decision making and in our planning, Dr. Greiner said. I am very pleased that our college has received this national honor.

In addition to HCTC, four other Kentucky community colleges were named eligible to compete. They are West Kentucky Community and Technical College, Madisonville Community College, Somerset Community College and Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College.

The success of our nation s community colleges is more important than ever before, said Aspen Institute College Excellence Program Executive Director Josh Wyner who announced the names of the 120 top community colleges at the annual convention of the American Association of Community Colleges in Orlando, Florida. At a time when a college degree is essential to entering the middle class, community colleges offer the most promising path to education and employment for literally millions of Americans. This competition spotlights excellence and helps raise the bar for all community colleges to improve student achievement and better prepare the next generation for the job market after college.