CASC Named One of 150 Top U.S. Community Colleges

Carl Albert State College (CASC) in Poteau and Sallisaw was named as one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America’s community colleges.

CASC was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide to compete for the million dollar Aspen Prize.

CASC President Jay Falkner said, “We are truly honored that our institution is selected as an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College. The Aspen is one of, if not the most prestigious award in higher education, and we are extremely excited to be included in the Top 150 and have the opportunity to compete.”

Falkner said, “The next step of the application process is due next month, and our team at CASC is already working to compile information that will showcase many of the outstanding aspects of our college.

“I am so proud of Carl Albert State College for being recognized for our achievements, because our employees work diligently to make student success our mission,” Falkner said.

Awarded every two years since 2011, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning; certificate and degree completion; employment and earnings; and high levels of access and success for minority and low-income students.

CASC will go to the next round of the competition for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence by submitting an application to be reviewed through a rigorous evaluation for a spot on the top 10 Aspen Prize finalists list. Top 10 finalists will be named in May 2018. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the finalists’ locations and collect additional quantitative data. A distinguished prize Jury will select a grand prize winner, finalist(s) with distinction, and rising star(s) in spring 2019.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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