Santa Monica College Receives Nation's Top Award for Increasing Exports

By Lookout Staff

May 22, 2018 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce recognized Santa Monica College (SMC) for its significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports during a ceremony in the nation's capital Monday.

SMC was the only community college recognized with the President’s “E” Award for Exports presented by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross during the ceremony, which kicked off World Trade Week.

It is the first time SMC has won the top award of its kind, which was also given to two four-year institutions, Colorado State University and Colorado Mesa University.

SMC was recognized for its "leadership role helping expand international student recruitment programs," as well as its "use of partnerships and creative program development to create opportunities for underrepresented markets," Ross wrote in a letter to SMC.

"SMC’s achievements have undoubtedly contributed to national export expansion efforts that support the U.S. economy and create American jobs,” Ross said.

SMC boasts the second highest international student population among the nation's community colleges, with 3,400 students from more than 100 countries worldwide.

SMC Superintendent/President Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery called the award a “testament to Santa Monica College’s commitment to global citizenship and promoting higher education opportunities within California, the U.S., and beyond national borders.”

Jeffery cited the school's "diverse, global campus culture," study abroad programs and help expanding international student recruitment at "sister colleges in the U.S."

SMC also has an institutional “global citizenship” requirement for students pursuing an Associate of Arts degree, officials said.

The school has previously been recognized with the Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization from NAFSA Association of International Educators and the inaugural 2017 Andrew Heiskell Award for Innovation in International Education from the Institute of International Education.

“Santa Monica College is dedicated to providing the highest quality of undergraduate education to as many students as possible," Jeffery said, "and we recognize the potential of that in creating a progressive, globally connected society.”