Nine community and tech colleges eligible for inclusive excellence award from U.S. Department of Education
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Nine community and technical colleges in Washington state are eligible to apply for recognition from the U.S. Department of Education for promoting inclusive excellence in education. The colleges are among 200 higher education institutions -- half of them community and technical colleges -- eligible to apply for the department's Postsecondary Success Recognition Program. The eligible community and technical colleges are:
• Bates Technical College
• Bellingham Technical College
• Columbia Basin College
• Lake Washington Institute of Technology
• North Seattle College
• Pierce College
• Renton Technical College
• Walla Walla Community College
• Yakima Valley College
To determine eligibility for the recognition program, the Department of Education used publicly available data to evaluate key indicators of equitable access, student success, and post-college outcomes for students of color and low-income students at pubic and nonprofit higher education institutions across the country.
The colleges now have the opportunity to advance to the next phase of the selection process for the Postsecondary Success Recognition program. The program is part of the Biden administration's Raise the Bar initiative, which aims to boost postsecondary completion rates, close achievement gaps, and ensure all students earn valuable credentials. The initiative honors higher education institutions based on how well they prepare graduates for the workforce and fulfilling lives, rather than their exclusivity.
The colleges are invited to complete an application for recognition by Nov. 1. The Department of Education will announce recipients of the recognition in early 2025.