Kennedy King College Receives National Recognition

Deborah Bayliss | As of Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Kennedy-King-College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, is in the spotlight after receiving national recognition from the first-ever Aspen Institute “Rising Star” award for rapid improvement in degree program completion rates and will receive $100,000 in prize money.

Established in 1998, the Aspen Institute helps established and emerging business leaders put values at the heart of practice. Through dialogue, research, and outreach, the organization creates opportunities for executives and educators to explore new routes to business sustainability and values-based leadership., according to its website.

“The City of Chicago could not be prouder of Kennedy-King College for being the first-ever recipient of the Rising Star Award by the Aspen Institute. This recognition is a testament to the hard work of the students and the tireless commitment of the faculty to constantly raise the bar of the education that Kennedy-King provides,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Kennedy-King’s achievement also speaks to the larger progress we are seeing throughout the Chicago City College system. We will continue to build on this progress to ensure that a diploma from the Chicago City Colleges provides a pathway into a middle class life.”

A finalist for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Kennedy-King-College, was selected from more than 1,100 community colleges nationwide for this award.

“Our mission is to ensure the success of all of our students and we’ve seen impressive results through Reinvention,” said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor, Cheryl Hyman. “Kennedy-King College’s graduation rate has tripled since the launch of Reinvention and more students are achieving their goals, whether that’s completing a credential of economic value, pursuing a bachelor’s degree or entering the workforce with a family-sustaining wage.”

Located in the heart of Chicago’s Englewood community, Kennedy-King was recognized by the Aspen Institute for the significant improvements in completion made since the launch of City Colleges’ Reinvention initiative, a comprehensive reform effort Hyman launched to revamp all aspects of City Colleges to ensure students’ success.

“We are proud that our hard work is being recognized by the Aspen Institute,” said Arshele Stevens, president of Kennedy-King College. “Similar to City Colleges’ Reinvention, this distinction is primarily based on hard data. Our success rates are up thanks to strategic initiatives and dedication and commitment all around.”

Aspen Institute cited various reasons why Kennedy-King College stands out as one of the nation’s top community colleges including:

· The college’s official federally-recognized graduation rate has more than tripled

· Total number of degrees and certificates awarded increased by more than 75 percent

· Remarkable improvement in its transfer rate, rising 38 percent

· Launch of College to Careers, where college faculty and administrators partnered with leaders in the culinary and hospitality industry to ensure students receive stackable credentials of economic value that are relevant to the marketplace, providing students the opportunity to gain work experience while pursuing an associate degree.

· Development of clear, structured career pathways through Student GPS, which outlines the student’s semester by semester path through the institution while working toward their career and academic goals, combined with an increase in student supports and intensive advising.

For more information about City Colleges, visit www.ccc.edu.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee