Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU Tech) was named as one of 150 community colleges eligible to compete for the 2019 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. 

SAU Tech was selected from an estimated 1,000 public two-year colleges nationwide to compete for the million-dollar Aspen Prize. Dr. Jason Morrison, SAU Tech Chancellor stated, "We are excited to have a reputable outside entity recognize the work that we do every day; work that is sometimes overlooked by the normal governing bodies. The Aspen Institute recognized SAU Tech's excellence in serving minority and low-income students, producing graduates and training our graduates so that they are able to obtain good paying jobs or transfer to a four-year institution. We are looking forward to completing the application to compete with our counterparts across the nation for the prize."

SAU Tech is located in south Arkansas and is part of the Southern Arkansas University System. Started in 1968, the College sits inside the largest private industrial park in the south-central part of the U.S. SAU Tech has an average headcount of 1800 students per year and provides hundreds of hours of firefighter and environmental technician training each year. Learn more about SAU Tech. 

Awarded every two years since 2011, the Aspen Prize recognizes institutions with outstanding achievements in four areas: learning, certificate and degree completion, employment and earnings, and access and success for minority and low-income students. You can read more about the Aspen Prize here.