SKC’s Postsecondary Success Program wins recognition
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
News from Salish Kootenai College
PABLO - The U.S. Department of Education (Department) recently announced the winners of the first-ever Postsecondary Success Recognition Program (PSRP). Launched in April 2024 by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the program celebrates institutions of higher education that are enrolling underserved student populations, facilitating successful student transfers and completions, and equipping graduates for careers that lead to economic mobility.
“Imagine a world where schools with the most Pell Grant recipients are ranked highest, where ‘prestige’ is defined by preparing graduates well to enter the workforce and lead fulfilling lives and careers—sometimes right in their own communities. Imagine universities that are raising the bar for access and equity becoming household names. This award envisions a world where that is possible,” said Secretary Cardona. “Instead of giving schools high marks for the number of students they turn down, we want to recognize schools doing the most to lift students up.”
“The six colleges and universities honored as winners represent a cross-section of institutions serving diverse student populations, communities, and missions. Located in rural, suburban, and urban areas across the country, these schools demonstrate excellence in advancing student success while supporting equitable outcomes for all of their students.
“The 2025 Postsecondary Success Recognition Program winners among predominantly associate degree or certificate granting institutions are:
- CUNY Hostos Community College (New York) (Transfer Focus)
-Miami Dade College (Florida) (Career Focus)
- Salish Kootenai College (Montana) (Career/Transfer Focus)
“Salish Kootenai College (SKC) is a public, primarily associate degree granting institution chartered by the Tribal Council of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Western Montana. SKC serves over 600 students with nearly 80% underserved students of color and over 65% of students receiving Pell Grants. At SKC, 68% of students transfer or graduate within eight years, and students earn more than high school graduates in the state on average after college. SKC views their commitment to student success as critical to economic development, community sustainability, and tribal sovereignty for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the more than 60 tribes represented among their student population. SKC practices a holistic network approach to student support providing academic, basic needs, and career services through a coordinated CARE team. “At SKC, promotion of a culture of success is the work of the whole college – every employee, every day,” the college noted in its application. As a business major and member of the Couer d’Alene Tribe of Idaho, student Marie Aripa credits her success to SKC’s “emphasis and commitment to culture and creating a space for students like me to feel supported in the pursuit of higher learning.”’
