When Valencia College became the first recipient of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence last month, an unsung sector earned uncommon recognition. Now that the speeches are over and the prize money has been awarded, the Aspen Institute is sharing early lessons from its yearlong effort to determine the top community college in the…

By offering admission to more students than ever and introducing tuition plans attractive to middle-income families, many colleges have larger first-year classes. Poor job prospects are boosting enrollments, and recession is driving students to look for education bargains. However, the trend does not apply to all groups or institutions. (MSE)

Pennsylvania State University will turn 14 of its two-year campuses into four-year colleges, changing the face of higher education in the state and raising concerns for competing institutions. Three campuses will retain two-year status. The change is due to overcrowding at the University Park flagship campus, and because too few two-year campus…