Odessa, TX — Odessa College is proud to announce that we have been selected as a finalist for the 2026 Bellwether Award, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors recognizing outstanding and innovative community college programs. The Bellwether College Consortium revealed the 30 finalists for this year’s competition on November 3 at the 32nd Annual Community College Futures Assembly (CCFA).
Odessa College was named a finalist in the Instructional Programs and Services category, which highlights programs that foster exceptional teaching, learning, and student success. This recognition places OC among the top-scoring submissions in a national pool of 114 entries from 91 community colleges across 30 states. Odessa College’s submission, “Odessa College’s Eight-Week Term Transformation: A Decade of Innovation and Impact,” showcases the bold, research-driven restructuring that has reshaped instruction, improved flexibility, and dramatically increased student success at OC.
“We are deeply honored to be recognized among the country’s most innovative community colleges for our work with eight-week courses,” said Odessa College Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, Kim McKay. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, who work every day to ensure students have the resources, support, and high-impact learning opportunities they need to succeed.”
Being named a finalist means Odessa College will present about the transition to eight-week courses before a national panel of judges, community college leaders, and peers during the final round of competition. Odessa College is honored to stand among the top innovators in community college education and looks forward to representing our community on the national stage.
This year’s finalists represent 29 community colleges across 20 states. All finalist teams will share how their programs respond to critical challenges facing community colleges nationwide. The competition will take place February 22–24, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, where winners in each category will be announced.
Event co-sponsors include the Association of Community College Trustees, the National Council of Instructional Administrators, the National Council for State Directors of Community Colleges, the National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship, and the National Council for Continuing Education and Training.
About the Community College Futures Assembly
The Community College Futures Assembly serves as an annual national forum and think tank dedicated to identifying innovative, effective solutions shaping the future of community colleges. The Bellwether Award is its signature national recognition program.
For more information about the Bellwether College Consortium, visit www.bellwethercollegeconsortium.com or contact rmartinez1702@alamo.edu