Rural Community College Excellence

Rural and Tribal community colleges are potentially valuable stakeholders in any regional economic and community development effort. A new report by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program identifies four pathways that the best rural and Tribal community colleges use to capitalize on strengths and overcome challenges to achieve student success. 

Rural and Tribal community colleges also have the potential to unite regions and lead development efforts as a rural development hub. Our 2019 report draws on the wisdom of three transformational rural community colleges leading the way in their respective regions.

Aspen Institute Community Strategies Group
Latest From Aspen CSG
publications
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Mapping a New Terrain: Call to Action

As new rural outdoor recreation economies take root, we can meet this moment by improving how we do outdoor recreation development to better support rural families, businesses, and workers, create more sustainable and equitable economic systems, and improve local health and wellbeing.

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Wealth Creation in Rural and Indigenous Places

Sep. 19th, 2023, 2PM

Learn how rural practitioners are advancing equitable prosperity and economic development in a way that embraces and strengthens the unique assets of rural regions.

blog-posts
WealthWorks: A Powerful Tool for Thriving Rural Places

WealthWorks is an approach to doing economic development differently that inspired and continues to inform the Thrive Rural Framework. Learn more about the WealthWorks approach.

blog-posts
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Broadband Resources

A collection of broadband resources for funding, advocacy, and community program opportunities for rural community leaders.

blog-posts
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How To Organize a Rural Action Infrastructure

Discussion with rural leaders on the opportunity equitable outdoor recreation economies pose to rural areas.

blog-posts
Queer youth in celebratory gathering
Rural and Native Celebrations of the LGBTQ+ Community

A collection of rural, queer organizations and stories about rural communities and Native nations celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. Explore these moments to learn more about how queer people are celebrated in rural spaces. 

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Rural Policy Resources

A collection of resources provided by the Brookings Institution emerging from their rural research.