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    LSCPA once again named among 150 top U.S. community colleges

    For the second consecutive time, Lamar State College Port Arthur has been awarded the coveted Aspen Prize, ranking the school among the top 150 community college in the United States.

    LSCPA is now eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Price for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance in American’s community colleges. LSCPA was selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize.

    The designation denotes LSCPA as a semifinalist and eligible to compete for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, awarded biennially to 10 of the more than 1,000 two-year colleges in the United States.  Selection for consideration was derived from an independent analysis of reported data and focused on retention, completion, transfer, improvement in performance over time, and equity as defined as performance outcomes for minority and low-income students. Only 15 of the 84 public two-year colleges in Texas were nominated.
     
    “At Lamar State College Port Arthur, we aspire to improve how we impact the lives of students as they pursue degrees and certificates,” LSCPA President Dr. Betty Reynard said. “The greatest measure of how we are doing is in the growing success of our students. Being named an Aspen Prize winner twice is especially exciting for our faculty and staff and is a public validation of all the hard work we’ve put in on behalf of our students’ futures.”

    LSCPA ranked No. 1 in the category “Credentials Awarded per 100 FTE Students.” The college posted a figure of 81.6 degrees or certificates earned per 100 FTE.

    The college also ranked No. 1 in Texas in “Credentials Awarded per 100 FTE Minority Students,” 58.6/100, which was also second highest nationally. The categories regarding first-year retention rate, three-year graduation rate, and rate of improvement in performance over time, were above the national average at LSCPA.

    The top 10 finalists for the 2019 Aspen Prize will be named in May 2018. The Aspen Institute will then conduct site visits to each of the 10 finalists and collect additional quantitative data, including employment and earnings data. A distinguished Prize Jury will select a grand prize winner, finalist with distinction, and rising star in spring 2019.