Rose M. Martinez
The Bellwether College Consortium is an independent think tank that annually hosts competitive teams from across the nation. These community colleges earn the distinction of being named Bellwether Finalists. They are selected through a rigorous two-round process and the ten top-scored community college programs compete in one of three award categories: 1.) instructional programs and services; 2.) workforce development; and 3.) planning, governance, and finance.
Competing teams vie for both the Best in Showcase Award and the coveted Bellwether Award. Bellwether Award criteria include addressing a critical issue with an innovative response that is replicable, scalable, and equity-focused, and demonstrates data-evidenced success. Showcase winners are selected based on a short elevator pitch of their innovative program, a table-top poster elaborating on each judged criterion, and the college representative’s ability to address all program-related questions comprehensively. Seasoned practitioners and policy influencers serve as judges for both competitions.
What does innovation look like?
An Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot that maximizes efficiency and efficacy of academic and student support staff is an example of an award-winning submission. Other examples include: a project manager to facilitate cross-campus collaboration on new technologies; an offender re-entry training program in trades, business, and healthcare; an entrepreneurial initiative to grow minority, micro, veteran, bilingual, and women-owned businesses; and an 18-week workforce development program with a 93% employment rate.
The 2022 Bellwether Award winners were:
• The Community College of Baltimore County (MD) won for its submission, General Education as a Mechanism to Promote Equitable Access to High Impact Practices, in the award category of Instructional Programs and Services.
