Long Beach City College (LBCC) was one of 100 community colleges nationwide invited to apply for the U.S. Department of Education’s new “Postsecondary Success Recognition Program”, as part of the “Raise the Bar: Attaining College Excellence and Equity” initiative. This recognition program acknowledges higher education institutions demonstrating a commitment to equitable access, student success, and post-college outcomes, focusing on supporting low-income students and students of color.

“We are honored that LBCC was among the 100 community colleges in the country invited by the U.S. Department of Education to apply and be recognized,” said Dr. Mike Muñoz, LBCC President. “By implementing evidence-based practices and data-driven strategies, LBCC ensures that every student has the opportunity to graduate, transfer, and achieve upward mobility through meaningful careers. This invitation highlights our ongoing efforts to close equity gaps and be part of a national movement that prioritizes student achievement, irrespective of background.”

“Receiving an exclusive invitation from the U.S. Department of Education validates the hard work our faculty and staff have invested in advancing equity at LBCC,” said Vivian Malauulu, LBCC Board of Trustees President. “Equity and inclusion are central to our mission, and this opportunity highlights the efficacy of our student success strategies while allowing us to share our best practices with other community colleges nationwide.”

The Postsecondary Success Recognition Program was created in April 2024 as part of the Raise the Bar initiative to recognize higher education institutions achieving notable success in postsecondary equity and completion rates. LBCC met key eligibility criteria for the recognition, including high performance on metrics such as enrolling a significant number of low-income students and students of color, helping students graduate or transfer successfully, and preparing them for successful careers.

As part of the Postsecondary Success Recognition Program application, LBCC will address three key questions: strategies for prioritizing student success; the implementation of data-driven improvements; and the measurable impact of these strategies on students. Finalists will be announced by the U.S. Department of Education in early 2025.