Motlow State Named Opportunity College
May 29, 2025
Motlow State Community College has been named an Opportunity College & University (OCU), according to the newly released 2025 Carnegie Classifications, a collaborative initiative of the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Of the 479 institutions that received the recognition, Motlow is one of only 60 community colleges nationwide to receive this prestigious designation, which recognizes institutions that prioritize student access and strong economic outcomes for learners. The OCU designation celebrates colleges that not only open their doors widely to all students but also provide clear, successful pathways to competitive earnings and workforce success.
“We are humbled and grateful to receive this designation,” said Dr. Michael Torrence, President of Motlow State. “This recognition is a powerful affirmation of the extraordinary efforts of our faculty, staff, and leadership—each of whom leads from where they are to create meaningful opportunities for our students and our communities. Additionally, the designation speaks to the outstanding relationship between the college and its business and industry partners.”
“The institutions that are high access and high earnings—the Opportunity Colleges and Universities—warrant recognition, understanding, and investment,” says Timothy F. C. Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation. “For if we create more places like them, and ensure the postsecondary sector is accountable for student success, we create more opportunity for everyone. And that, I think, is something Americans will rally behind.”
The Opportunity College designation is based on institutions’ demonstrated commitment to increasing educational attainment and economic mobility for students, particularly those from historically underserved populations. It aligns with Motlow’s mission to be a student-centered institution that champions access, opportunity, and student success through high-impact teaching, service, and innovation.
“We want this to be seen as holding higher education and our institutions accountable,” says Ted Mitchell, president of ACE. “Are they constructing a campus that reflects the community around them, and are they providing those students with the essential tools and skills needed to go out into the world and succeed in a chosen career? It is time for a new social contract between higher education and the American people, and that contract has ‘job one’ focusing on student success.”
The OCU represents a diverse cross-section of American higher education institutions—public and private, large and small, urban and rural—demonstrating that excellence in providing access and fostering economic mobility is possible across institutional types and settings. They serve as proof points that colleges and universities can simultaneously serve all students and prepare them for economic success.
“Motlow State is proud to be a national model of what’s possible when opportunity and workforce alignment are at the center of higher education,” President Torrence added. “This is not just an award—it is a call to continue building systems that transform lives.”
Motlow State invites its students, alumni, and stakeholders to join in celebrating this milestone as the College continues to lead in advancing educational access and promoting economic opportunity across southern Middle Tennessee and beyond. For more information about Motlow State Community College and its programs, visit motlow.edu/programs.