From over 1,000 to 120 based on national data. In the first round of the selection process, Aspen convenes a Data and Metrics Advisory Panel (Data Panel) which works with the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems to develop a model for selecting 120 public two-year institutions (out of over 1,000 potential candidates) around the country that have demonstrated the highest levels of performance on metrics in three key areas: (1) student success in persistence, degrees awarded, completion, and transfer; (2) consistent improvement in these areas over time; and (3) equitable outcomes for students of all racial/ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

The model was developed using publicly available data from the National Center for Education Statistics’ Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the U.S. Census Bureau. To learn more about the Round I Model developed to determine the eligible 120 institutions, please click here.

From 120 to 10 finalists based on institutional data and practice.  In round two, Aspen invites 120 eligible institutions to submit an application describing what they have done to improve student success accompanied by data on completion and progression of students in two cohorts, learning outcomes, and labor market outcomes. To reduce the burden on the field, data definitions are aligned as much as possible with other reporting systems, including AACC's Voluntary Framework of Accountability.

Aspen convenes a Finalist Selection Committee of former community college presidents, respected researchers, and policy experts, to review the applications and select 10 institutions that deliver exceptional student outcomes in the following four areas:

• Completion Outcomes: Institutional practices and policies leading to frequent completion of associate’s degrees, credentials of at least one year in duration, and/or transfer to four-year colleges.
• Labor Market Outcomes: Institutional practices and policies aligned with labor market needs and student labor market success, resulting in high rates of employment and earnings for graduates.
• Learning Outcomes: Institutional practices and policies that result in strong and improving levels of student learning in courses, within programs, and college-wide.
• Equitable Outcomes: Institutional practices and policies that ensure access and success among students who are often under-served, including students from three underrepresented racial/ethnic groups—African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American—and low-income students.

Prior to the selection of the 10 finalists, Aspen conducts interviews with the leadership teams of approximately half of the institutions that submit applications.

From 10 finalists to one winner and up to four finalists with distinction. In round three, teams of experienced researchers and practitioners led by the RP Group, a consulting company focused on community colleges, conduct two-day site visits to each of the finalist institutions to gather qualitative information. During the site visits, teams collect evidence – through interviews with leadership, staff, faculty, students, community partners, and others – about how excellence was achieved in completion outcomes, labor market outcomes, learning outcomes, and equitable outcomes. Then, teams evaluate each institution using a rubric developed by the RP Group and the Aspen Institute.

In addition to information collected during the site visits, Aspen gathers three additional data sets in round three:

· Labor market outcomes (employment and earnings): In partnership with NCHEMS, Aspen collects state-level data on the employment rates and earnings of graduates from each community college at different points in time (immediately after graduation, one year after graduation, and five years after graduation), as well as the regional unemployment and jobs’ growth rates around each community college.

·Learning outcomes assessment: Measuring whether and what students learn is not standardized across community colleges, preventing easy quantitative comparisons. Aspen partners with nationally renowned learning experts at NCHEMS to collect and evaluate standardized information concerning each institution’s efforts to assess and improve student learning.

·Four-year transfer and completion outcomes: Aspen works with the National Student Clearinghouse to collect and analyze data on 4-year transfer and completion for three cohorts of each finalist institution’s first-time students.

A full analysis of quantitative and qualitative data collected throughout the entire Prize process is provided to a Prize Jury of prominent former elected officials, national business and civic leaders, and education experts, who review the information and select a winner and up to four finalists-with-distinction. Information about learning, completion, labor market, and equitable outcomes is presented alongside the context in which each institution operates. Specificallly:

• Completion outcomes are considered in the context of variables such as the percentage of students in academic/transfer programs (as opposed to vocational/technical programs), the demographic make-up of the student body, and the percentage of students attending the institution part-time.
• Labor market outcomes are considered in the context of variables such as county unemployment rate and county 5-year job growth rate.
• Learning outcomes are considered in the context of variables such as the percentage of students needing remediation, student language diversity, and the range of programs offered.
• Equitable outcomes are considered in the context of variables such as the percentage of minority and low-income students at the college and in each community college's service area.