FAQs

Established in 1995, the Bellwether Awards are a long-standing, respected award solely awarded to innovative community colleges. The rigorous award competition is an integral part of the Community College Futures Assembly where the 30 Bellwether Finalists are invited to present their program in a final round of competition among selected peer institutions. The Assembly is sponsored by the Alamo Colleges District and focuses on cutting-edge, trendsetting programs that are worthy of scaling and replication given their evidence-based outcomes and indicators. The Bellwether Awards are given annually in three categories to community colleges with outstanding and innovative programs or practices. Award categories are Instructional Programs and Services (IPS), Planning, Governance and Finance (PGF), and Workforce Development (WD).

The Bellwether Award has been compared to football’s Heisman Award because it is competitively judged and is awarded by respected peers in leadership positions. Recipients of the Bellwether Award have said that it has been a springboard for other types of recognition and/or funding.

Ten colleges are selected in each of three categories (i.e. Instructional Programs and Services (IPS), Planning, Governance and Finance (PGF), and Workforce Development (WD)).

The consortium will announce the finalists in October 2021. Bellwether Finalists are notified via email and through our social media channels.

Announcements appear on social media. Please follow us on the following social media platforms for the latest news.

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Finalists are invited to become members and are considered contenders for the Bellwether Award after they join the consortium. Consortium members receive registration to the Community College Futures Assembly and other valuable benefits.

Complete list of member benefits.

• • Instructional Programs & Services: Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to foster or support teaching and learning in the community college.

• • Planning, Governance & Finance: Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the community college.

• Workforce Development: Public and/or private strategic alliances and partnerships that promote community and economic development.

ALL community colleges in the United States and its territories can apply. The 30 Bellwether Finalists are those community colleges who scored highest in the first round of competition. Each college can enter one submission per award category.

Each college’s application should address criteria detailed on the BCC website in a complete and concise manner.

Submission Guidelines

No. Additional materials are requested only from finalists after they have been notified of their finalist status.

The deadline for the 2022 Bellwether Award competition is September 15, 2021.

Submit your entry here. 

Applications will only be accepted through the Bellwether submission portal.

For any issues or concerns contact Robert Acosta at racosta18@alamo.edu. 

Each community college can submit one entry per category (i.e. instructional programs and services, workforce development, and planning, governance and finance) for the 2022 national competition.

We welcome colleges who have never participated before as well as our past award finalists and winners.

Yes! It will be held on Wednesday, June 16 at 1:30 pm (CT).

Please register here.

The webinar will be recorded and posted here after the event.

Yes, we are thrilled to announce the 2022 Community College Futures Assembly will be held in San Antonio, TX. The location and date will be announced soon. Tentative dates for the assembly are Sunday, January 30 – Tuesday, February 1.

We will be following the CDC guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 for large in-person gatherings. We will also be abiding by Texas’s state guidelines and Alamo Colleges District guidance.

Face coverings are strongly encouraged, but not required.

Information on this webinar will be announced after the 30 Bellwether Finalists are named.

We are currently planning an in-person conference at this time.

Protocol for the hotel can be found at https://www.mengerhotel.com/health-and-safety

We will provide sanitizer to each attendee as part of the swag bag and at the main entrance of the Ballroom and each breakout session.