Anne Arundel Community College Earns 2025 HEED Award for Excellence and Community Impact

Anne Arundel Community College has been recognized nationally for its commitment to academic excellence and community building, earning the 2025 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award highlights colleges and universities that integrate strong teaching, student support, and inclusive campus life across all areas of the institution. National Recognition for Academic Excellence and Community Building AACC was one of nine community colleges featured in Insight Into Academia’s October issue and was the only Maryland community college recognized this year. This marks the fifth time the college has received a HEED Award, underscoring its long-term commitment to educational quality and student success. “We are honored to once again be recognized with the HEED Award,” said Dr. Dawn Lindsay, AACC president. “This recognition highlights our dedication to providing outstanding learning experiences and fostering a vibrant community, which is central to our new strategic plan.” What the HEED Award Honors The Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award recognizes institutions that demonstrate a broad, sustained commitment to student achievement, employee engagement, and a sense of belonging on campus. Applications are evaluated on a range of factors, including: Recruitment and retention of students and employees Institutional policies and programs Leadership and governance Campus culture and community impact “We take a detailed and somewhat holistic approach to reviewing each application in determining who will be named a HEED Award recipient. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight Into Academia. AACC’s Ongoing Commitment By earning its fifth HEED Award, Anne Arundel Community College continues to build on a national reputation for pairing strong academics with a supportive, community-focused environment. The recognition aligns with the college’s strategic priorities, which emphasize high-quality learning experiences, student success, and a welcoming campus culture for learners, faculty, and staff.
https://www.eyeonannapolis.net/2025/11/anne-arundel-community-college-earns-2025-heed-award-for-excellence-and-community-impact/