IHEP Champions of Access and Success Awards
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Through the IHEP Champions of Access and Success Awards, IHEP recognized the postsecondary institutions and individuals that embody our mission by leading efforts to improve access and success for underserved students across the nation. Award winners were announced on December 3, 2013, at the IHEP National Policy Summit: Redefining Access for the 21st-Century Student, held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The IHEP Champions of Access and Success Awards were selected through an open application and nomination process; for the institutional awards, all institutions committed to improving access and success were invited to apply. Selections were vetted by staff, board members, and external postsecondary access and success experts.
Institutional Champions
Institutional Champions of Access and Success are recognized for scaling and institutionalizing their access and success strategies. Awardees have strong leadership, faculty, and staff who are committed to achieving positive outcomes for students. Each institution has put in place robust data systems that inform their decision-making and interventions. The award winners are:
- Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale, Va.)
- Salish Kootenai College (Pablo, Mont.)
- St. Edwards University (Austin, Texas)
- The University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, Texas)
Exemplar Institutions
Exemplar Institutions are colleges and universities with strong programmatic efforts and promising practices that are driving access and success gains for targeted underserved student populations. The winning Exemplar Institutions are:
- California State University, Northridge (Northridge, Calif.)
- Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, N.C.)
- Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.)
- Miami Dade College (Miami, Fla.)
Champion of Champions Awards
Champion of Champions are those individuals that have provided exceptional leadership for improving access and success for underserved student groups and whose persistent work on behalf of these students has significantly improved the policies, practices, resources, and/or public will necessary for their successful entrance to and completion of postsecondary education. The award winners are:
- Secretary Richard W. Riley, Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Former Governor of South Carolina, and Current Senior Partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and its affiliate EducationCounsel, LLC
- Dr. Arnold L. Mitchem, Founder and President Emeritus, Council for Opportunity in Education
- Mary Beth Marklein, Education Reporter, USA Today
- Dr. Clifford Adelman, Senior Associate, IHEP
The Champions of Access and Success Awards Program provides detailed descriptions of all award winners.