Ocean County College is honored that the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has recognized OCC – for the second time – as one of the nation’s top 150 community colleges. The accolade grants eligibility to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the country’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges.

Only 15 percent of community colleges across the United States are invited each year to apply for this prize, which focuses singularly on student success, and bases its selections on community colleges’ outstanding achievements in four areas: student learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and high levels of access and success for students of color as well as low-income students.

“Community colleges play a vital role in developing talent and enabling social mobility across the country,” said Josh Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. “We’re pleased … to play a role in honoring outstanding community colleges and sharing what works to ensure great outcomes for students — through graduation and beyond.”

Although the past year-and-a-half has been challenging, OCC has continued to foster academic, economic, and cultural excellence; engage in national and international university and corporate partnerships; and cultivate a technologically progressive and entrepreneurial spirit.

We are proud of how our faculty and staff united during the pandemic to ensure the well-being of, and educational continuity for, our students. Through times of uncertainty, the complexities of remote learning, and the transition back to in-person classes, our entire college community had remained committed and cooperative.

We are very proud, further, to receive these accolades from the Aspen Institute in recognition of our achievements in promoting exemplary learning experiences and advancing community college education internationally.

Here at OCC, we remain dedicated to our vision — to be the boldest, most innovative, and most entrepreneurial student-centered college in the nation.