The Frontier Set is a diverse set of high-performing two-and four-year colleges, universities, and state systems, all committed to significantly increasing student access and success and eliminating racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in college attainment. The Aspen Institute College Excellence Program is helping the 12 Community College Frontier set member institutions to:
Frontier Set

- Implement policies and practices associated with significantly increasing student success, such as redesigned advising, enhanced digital learning and strengthened developmental education.
- Strengthen institutions’ ability to implement and sustain change.
- Share progress, insights, and lessons learned.
The Frontier Set is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through its Postsecondary Success strategy.
The 12 members of the community college segment of the Frontier Set are:
Columbia Basin College
Pasco, WA
Davidson County Community College
Thomasville, NC
Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC
Indian River State College*
Fort Pierce, FL
Lorain County Community College
Elyria, OH
Miami Dade College*
Miami, FL
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
Green Bay, WI
San Jacinto College*
Pasadena, TX
Double Click to Edit
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
Sinclair Community College
Dayton, OH
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC
William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, IL
*Denotes past winners, finalists and rising stars of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The 12 Frontier Set community colleges were selected from a pool of high-performing institutions nationally by a panel of national experts. Selection was based on the strength of student outcomes and improvement in outcomes over time, enrollment size and student demographics, and potential to set new standards for improvement in student outcomes and postsecondary attainment, particularly for low-income, first-generation students, and students of color.
For more information, visit: https://postsecondary.gatesfoundation.org/areas-of-focus/transformation/institutional-partnerships/partner-and-learning-networks/
For more information, visit: https://postsecondary.gatesfoundation.org/areas-of-focus/transformation/institutional-partnerships/partner-and-learning-networks/
Contact us for more information
Keith Witham, Managing Director