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PRESS RELEASE
December 6, 2004
MacKay Jimeson
(850) 245-0413
Education Commissioner Winn and Chancellor Armstrong Laud MetLife Foundation Best-Practice College Award Semi-Finalists
Florida Community Colleges show outstanding performance in student retention
TALLAHASSEE — Education Commissioner John Winn and Community Colleges Chancellor David Armstrong today congratulated four Florida community colleges for their selection as 2004-2005 MetLife Foundation Best-Practice College Awards semi-finalists. Miami Dade College, North Florida Community College, Santa Fe Community College and Valencia Community College were honored for outstanding performance in student retention.
"Not only are more students enrolling in Florida's community colleges more are staying and completing their degrees," Commissioner Winn said. "Our colleges are developing innovative programs and best practices that inspire students to stay in school."
The MetLife Foundation will honor two to four institutions as Best-Practice Colleges in student retention. Selection of colleges to receive the awards will be based on a "blind" review of college portfolios by a committee of community college experts.
Each college recipient will receive a $10,000 award. The awards are made possible by the MetLife Foundation Initiative on Student Success: Community College Connections, a project funded by the MetLife Foundation and hosted by the Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin.
"Our colleges are increasing the rate of learning and completion among students," said Chancellor David Armstrong. "More than ever, our students are better prepared to transition into the workforce or continue their higher education."
Semi-finalist college selection is based on the institutions' scores on the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE), a survey recently taken by students at community colleges across the country. The College's scores on categories such as active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, and support for learners were higher than national and Florida averages.
Earlier this year, Florida was recognized by the Southern Regional Education Board, a nonprofit research organization that monitors education institutions in 16 states, for having the highest retention rate among SREB states.
The national project identifies, recognizes and rewards community and technical colleges that demonstrate exemplary performance in the area of student retention.