Bellwether Awards Competition

2027 Bellwether Awards Competition 

The Bellwether College Consortium is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2027 Bellwether Award. The consortium invites community colleges to participate in a transformative and rewarding experience of sharing their respective responses to bellwether issues. A community college designated as one of the 30 Bellwether Finalists is invited to engage in an immersive, interactive final round of competition for this national recognition. A Bellwether Award winner will be chosen in each of the three categories below.

Award Categories

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

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

3) Workforce Development: Public and/or private strategic alliances and partnerships that promote community and economic development by producing an industry-aligned workforce.

Best In Showcase

The Best in Showcase Awards are presented to the three top community college teams that provide the strongest and most comprehensive elevator pitches explaining their respective program and their response to a critical issue. Teams are judged Best in Showcase for their comprehensive and succinct program overview, their thorough and compelling response to audience questions, and tabletop graphics addressing all scored criteria. The Bellwether Finalists Showcase occurs the evening before the Bellwether Award competition presentations.