Reynolds Selected to Join National Aspen Institute Initiative

Reynolds Community College has been chosen as one of just 55 community colleges in the country to join the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program’s Unlocking Opportunity Network — a national effort dedicated to ensuring community colleges better connect students to meaningful careers and four-year degrees.

Over the next three years, Reynolds will work closely with the Aspen Institute and peer colleges nationwide to examine its programs and advising systems. The goal is to make sure every credential or degree offered leads to strong job opportunities or smooth transfer pathways to a bachelor’s degree.

“This recognition is meaningful, well-earned, and truly a feather in our cap as we start a new academic year,” said Dr. Paula Pando, President of Reynolds. “It reflects the work underway to position Reynolds as a place where students can access real opportunity, and where outcomes—not intentions—guide our efforts. Our acceptance into the network sets us up to ensure every program offering connects students to real opportunity, real wages, and the promise of a better life. When our students succeed, our whole community moves forward.”

Participation in the Unlocking Opportunity Network allows Reynolds to collaborate with leading colleges across the country, share strategies that work, and implement research-based reforms proven to improve student success.

For Reynolds students and the regional workforce, this means more than just recognition — it means greater access to programs designed with real outcomes in mind: better jobs, higher wages, and the opportunity to continue education at the bachelor’s level.