In an era when higher education institutions are increasingly called upon to serve as community anchors, partnerships have become essential for expanding access, creating a sense of campus belonging, and preparing students for long-term success. This year’s Insight Into Academia Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award winners showcase how alliances—with peer institutions, K–12 districts, nonprofits, and industry leaders—can strengthen both student outcomes and community well-being. From wraparound services and food security to transfer pipelines and medical training, these award-winning colleges and universities demonstrate that external connections are not peripheral but central to their missions of academic excellence and community.
Meeting Basic Needs Through Community Alliances
For Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), student success begins with eliminating barriers outside the classroom. The Maryland institution has long emphasized high-impact practices in advising, tutoring, and course redesign, but its most innovative work lies in initiatives addressing students’ everyday realities.
AACC works closely with the Maryland Food Bank and Hungry Harvest to ensure food security on campus. In fiscal year 2024, more than 780 students received assistance through the AACC Food Pantry, while 775 participated in its free produce market. These efforts are reinforced by philanthropic contributions, with community donors raising $122,000 through the HelpLink fund to provide emergency support for students, including those in nursing programs.
“These strategic partnerships with county agencies, state commissions, nonprofit organizations and community partners create pathways for AACC students to access resources, develop leadership and seize opportunities that strengthen their academic success, and future career potential,” says Alicia Renehan, AACC public relations manager.
Creating Pathways for First-Generation Students
At Elon University in North Carolina, efforts focus on expanding opportunity for first-generation and underrepresented students. Admissions staff have deepened ties with organizations such as Rural Opportunities for College Access (ROCA) in New Mexico, connecting with Native and rural students often overlooked in traditional recruitment pipelines.
Closer to home, Elon invests heavily in its community through the Elon Academy, part of the Center for Access and Success. The program provides academically promising high school students in Alamance County—particularly those with financial need or no family history of college—with a comprehensive, multiyear pathway to higher education. The academy includes three summers of residential experiences, year-round Saturday workshops for families, and a transition program after graduation. Support continues once students enroll in college, with ongoing guidance through the Elon Academy College Success Program to ensure degree completion.
These efforts illustrate how sustained relationships can ensure students not only reach college but persist to graduation.
Promise Programs Reshaping Community College Access
Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) in Colorado has redefined collaboration through its Promise programs, which guarantee free tuition, fees, and books for eligible local high school graduates. The D2 Promise Program, launched in 2020 with Harrison School District 2, was the first publicly funded “first-dollar” scholarship in the nation—covering tuition and fees upfront, while allowing students to use other financial aid, such as Pell Grants, for living expenses. This design shifts the financial burden away from students and their families.
The initiative began with private seed support from the Dakota Foundation and Legacy Institute but has since been stabilized through voter-approved funding via Ballot Measure 4A. Promise Coaches, funded as part of the program, provide workshops, mentoring, and one-on-one academic guidance.
“This partnership demonstrates how strategic collaborations can remove financial and academic barriers, expanding access and opportunity for historically underserved students,” says Enrique Romo, vice president of student experience and equity at PPSC.
Expanding Clinical Opportunities Through Health Care Partnerships
At the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, collaborations are key to bridging classroom instruction with professional practice. With campuses in New Mexico and Florida, the college has expanded clinical training opportunities by building strong ties with regional health systems.
Burrell has teamed with Parrish Healthcare in Melbourne and Health First in Brevard County to provide mentorship across multiple specialties. These placements allow third- and fourth-year students to train under experienced preceptors, strengthening their clinical competencies.
As part of a broader momentum in Florida, these partnerships enable clinical training at hospitals and clinics across the Space Coast and broaden community integration, says Sidney Alvarez, assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Burrell.
“These collaborations not only enrich students’ training environments but also strengthen institutional ties to the communities Burrell serves.”
Linking Education, Industry, and Community Well-Being
William Rainey Harper College in Illinois demonstrates the impact of longstanding community connections as well as forward-looking workforce initiatives. The college has worked for decades with Partners for Our Communities, a nonprofit that helps underserved families with bilingual support and hosts Harper courses to ease transportation challenges.
Another enduring alliance with the Kenneth Young Center provides mental health services and support for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults, resources that directly complement Harper’s student counseling services.
On the workforce side, the college has cultivated a decade-old apprenticeship model with companies such as Zurich North America and Cargo Network Partners. These initiatives combine academic coursework with on-the-job training, allowing students to “earn while they learn” in fields ranging from IT and cybersecurity to welding and health care.
Through its Innovation Accelerator, Harper has also implemented the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) framework, giving employers and industry professionals direct input into curriculum design for emerging industries. These cooperative efforts ensure it remains responsive to both student needs and economic trends.
A Common Thread
While these institutions differ in size, mission, and geography, they share a common understanding: higher education cannot operate in isolation. Strategic partnerships are critical to ensuring that students from all backgrounds receive not just access to classrooms, but the full range of support needed to thrive.
From food pantries to Promise scholarships, and clinical placements to apprenticeships, the 2025 HEED Award winners show that exemplifying excellence in higher education requires alliances well beyond campus borders. Their efforts highlight a sector defined less by competition than by a shared commitment to ensuring the students they serve have the tools they need to succeed.
