Florida Senate - 2019                            (NP)    SR 1854
       
       
        
       By Senators Harrell, Mayfield, and Albritton
       
       
       
       
       
       25-04064A-19                                          20191854__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution commending Indian River State College on
    3         receiving the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College
    4         Excellence, the nation’s top honor recognizing the
    5         best community colleges in America.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, the Aspen Institute, an educational and policy
    8  studies organization based in Washington, D.C., has awarded its
    9  highest honor, the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,
   10  to Indian River State College, and
   11         WHEREAS, Indian River State College was selected for the
   12  award from among more than 1,000 state and community colleges
   13  that the Aspen Institute reviewed according to a rigorous
   14  evaluation of data, strategies, and outcomes relating to student
   15  learning and achievement, and
   16         WHEREAS, according to the institute, Indian River State
   17  College stands out as one of the nation’s top community colleges
   18  for many reasons, including the college’s 56 percent university
   19  transfer rate, compared to the national average of 32 percent,
   20  and
   21         WHEREAS, 94 percent of Indian River State College graduates
   22  find employment or continue their education, with 52 percent of
   23  the students going on to attain a bachelor’s degree, compared to
   24  the national average of 42 percent, and
   25         WHEREAS, in another gauge of student success, Indian River
   26  State College’s 2017-2018 graduating class, totaling 3,951
   27  students, was the largest in the college’s 58-year history, and
   28         WHEREAS, the Aspen Institute also recognized Indian River
   29  State College for its exceptional access for minority students
   30  and low-income students, and the college is designated as the
   31  third most affordable college in the United States by the
   32  Department of Education, with no tuition increase in the past 6
   33  years, and
   34         WHEREAS, the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence
   35  is awarded every 2 years and is generously funded by major
   36  foundation partners, and Indian River State College has been
   37  selected as a Top 10 finalist for the award in each of the past
   38  3 program cycles, advancing in 2017 to the Aspen Prize Top 3 as
   39  a Finalist with Distinction, NOW, THEREFORE,
   40  
   41  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   42  
   43         That the Senate commends Indian River State College on
   44  receiving the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence,
   45  the nation’s top honor recognizing the best community colleges
   46  in America.
   47         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   48  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to Indian River
   49  State College President Dr. Edwin Massey as a tangible token of
   50  the sentiments of the Florida Senate.