Dalton State College graduate
Institutions earning the Seal of Excelencia must present evidence of effectiveness of institutional practices serving Latino students. The positive impact these schools have is clear. While representing less than 1% of all colleges and universities in the U.S., these schools graduate 18% of Latino students nationwide and graduate 8% of all students, clearly showing the positive impact that effective strategies have on an overall student body.
Log in to view the full article
Dalton State College graduate
Institutions earning the Seal of Excelencia must present evidence of effectiveness of institutional practices serving Latino students. The positive impact these schools have is clear. While representing less than 1% of all colleges and universities in the U.S., these schools graduate 18% of Latino students nationwide and graduate 8% of all students, clearly showing the positive impact that effective strategies have on an overall student body.
This is not simply about enrollment, but rather the intentionality to serve students by providing access to excellence. Aligning data, practice and leadership move institutions beyond isolated programs toward systemic change.
“To show that you’re educating every student, you have to be able to disaggregate and say how Hispanics among others are doing,” Santiago notes. “Sometimes, they innovate with Hispanics and then serve everybody, or they innovate in other ways but they make sure they include Hispanics. … That’s accountability and intentionality.”
This year, five institutions are receiving the Seal for the first time, which involved a data-driven careful evaluation. Santiago says all five were explicit about constructively tracking how Hispanic students were performing relative to others. Some are open access institutions and others more selective, but all focused on academic excellence.
“All five of these were able to articulate their access criteria … but they all tied into academic excellence,” she says. “They were able to articulate the integration of the two.” Every three years, institutions can choose to recertify. There are five institutions that have re-certified their Seal, showing that their commitment to student success is ongoing and ever evolving.
“This is tied to the mission and value proposition of the institution,” says Santiago. “They have to self-assess the linkage between the data, the practice and their institutional strategic plan to show that intentionality. … The five all talked about the use of data in measuring and understanding what they’re doing and also informing how they can continue to improve.” For 2025, Excelencia has added an additional designation, Intentionally Thriving Institutions (ITIs). These schools previously received the Seal of Excelencia in 2019, when it was launched, recertified in 2022 and are now receiving their third certification. They have not only sustained their commitment to student success but have also expanded their definition of success to include transition from graduation to the workforce.
SEAL OF EXCELENCIA
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
The northernmost institution in the California State University system, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, is deeply committed to student success. 28% of the student body identifies as Latino.
“In addition to institutional data, the university values direct feedback from the campus community to help shape and improve campus services,” says JoAnn Yamani, executive director, strategic communications. “For example, we observed that the yield rate for our local Latinx students was relatively low. So, looking at the data, we deepened our commitment to recruiting local students and specifically kept Latinx students in mind. To simplify admissions and improve access, the university established direct admissions agreements with local high schools.”
El Leñador, an award-winning bilingual newspaper produced by Cal Poly students, emphasizes in-depth, culturally relevant reporting and provides leadership opportunities. It fosters academic rigor, professional development and inclusivity. Students working with El Leñador from 2018–24 had a GPA of 3.20 compared to 2.94 for the general student population. Its impact is also seen in the success of the university’s alumni.
The university’s Green & Gold Guarantee covers tuition and fees for eligible students for up to four years for first-year students and two years for transfers. This fills the gap between funds provided by federal and state aid and the actual cost of attendance. There is also bilingual financial aid counseling.
“Retention rates played a key part in our introduction of place-based learning communities (PBLCs),” says Yamani. “PBLCs offer immersive experiences that help students connect with peers and faculty. Klamath Connection, the first PBLC launched in 2015, aimed to boost the success of Latinx and low-income students in STEM fields. Today, PBLCs include programs such as Creando Raices, which foster a sense of community and social justice among Latinx students. Overall, these initiatives ensure that Latinx students see their identities and histories reflected in their academic experiences, which is essential for their retention and sense of belonging.”
Dalton State College
Located in northwest Georgia, in 2018 Dalton State College became that state’s first Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). More than 38% of the current student population identify as Hispanic. 78% of Dalton students receive financial aid, and 83% graduated debt-free in 2023–24.
The Dalton State Foundation strives to remove financial barriers through scholarships. These scholarships do not consider race or ethnicity, but there is intentional outreach to first-generation students, supporting first-gen and low-income students in persisting and graduating at higher rates.
“We routinely evaluate student success metrics like retention and graduation, but we also consider qualitative data related to satisfaction and the student experience,” says Dr. John M. Fuchko III, Dalton State’s president. “Our approach has always been to find ways to serve all students by meeting them where they are.”
A federal grant supported advisor salaries for the Student Success and Advising Center so that students could be provided with consistent, student-centered relationships that support their academic journey. Students were provided with guided pathways for their program of study, and the Center increased its contacts and individualized support to students. Over the grant’s five-year period, there was a 6% increase in the fall-to-fall retention rate. Dalton State has now institutionalized these positions and expanded to add a position with a focus on adult learners. There is a focus on work readiness with students gaining experience on campus as well as mentorship and leadership programs. In the fall of 2024, 37% of student workers at Dalton State were Latino, an increase from 25% in fall 2020. 76% of Latino staff at the college are graduates of Dalton State.
“Earning the Seal … symbolizes the shared impact we make in collaboration with students, employers and community partners,” says Fuchko. “Whether through student-led peer mentoring and campus engagement events or workforce development, service learning and internships, it highlights our collective efforts to shape a stronger, more vibrant region.”
Rutgers University-Newark
Part of Rutgers University, New Jersey’s preeminent public research university, Rutgers University-Newark is a Hispanic Serving Institution with 34.9% of the undergraduate population identifying as Hispanic.
“Rutgers-Newark’s institutional efforts to increase Latino student success while improving success for all our students have emphasized fostering a strong sense of social belonging among all Rutgers-Newark students,” says Dr. Luis M. Rivera, vice provost (interim). “The Division of Student Affairs, including its administrators and professional staff, plays a central role in curating experiences through their dedicated centers and services that match and address student needs and interests. Second, faculty play a critical role in fostering students’ sense of belonging by shaping inclusive, affirming and student-centered learning environments.”
The Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) has received national recognition for reimagining academic excellence and emphasizing community-centered values. Students reflective of the marginalized populations of Newark are enrolled, supported and provided opportunities to develop as socially conscious leaders. Its 19-credit interdisciplinary curriculum covers civil rights, race, gender, environmental justice and democracy, culminating in a capstone. Retention rates consistently exceed 90%, and Latino students achieved 100% retention in 2021–22 and 2024–25.
Interdisciplinarity and collaboration help foster inclusive excellence and enable diverse faculty hires. Rutgers-Newark established the Pedagogy, Professional Development and Publicly-Engaged Scholarship Collaboratory (P3), a comprehensive faculty development center dedicated to evidence-based pedagogical practices and high quality teaching.
“Belonging is the foundation of student success, and Rutgers-Newark ensures that every student — Latine and otherwise — feels supported to achieve at the highest levels,” says Dr. Tonya Smith-Jackson, Rutgers University-Newark’s chancellor. “From the moment they arrive, we reaffirm our message that Latine students and all students can succeed at an intensive and demanding research university like Rutgers-Newark. That affirmation is backed by programs and practices that help students persist and graduate.”
San Jose State University
San Jose State University (SJSU) serves a highly diverse student population and boasts the largest graduate student population in the California State University (CSU) system. Of the institution’s 40,000 students, 30% identify as Latinx. SJSU relies on multiple data points to guide programming and facilitate holistic support for Latinx and all students. Particular attention is paid to enrollment trends and key student success indicators.
“Using both CSU system and institutional dashboards, we regularly review key indicators such as enrollment, persistence, retention and graduation rates,” says Dr. Magdalena Barrera, vice provost for faculty success. “We also draw insights from campuswide assessments, including the campus climate survey, to help us understand community perceptions and track progress toward fostering a welcoming and inclusive academic environment.”
Programs such as the MESA Engineering Program and units like the Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center (Centro) collect qualitative feedback to better understand student experiences and program impact. The Centro Adelante Peer Mentoring Program is open to all first-time, first-year students. Designed to center the needs and experiences of Latinx students, participant feedback is gathered as to how mentorship supports students’ transition to college and influences their decision to persist.
“This continuous feedback loop has been essential in strengthening our programs and ensuring they remain responsive to students’ evolving needs,” says Barrera. “Rather than placing the responsibility for success solely on individual students, SJSU focuses on reimagining policies, practices and structures to ensure every student has what they need to thrive. This approach includes developing a campus-wide Student Success Equity Plan, reorganizing academic advising to create a more coordinated and student-centered approach; advancing the Admission to Graduation Project to remove barriers and streamline pathways; and investing in innovative teaching practices that close equity gaps and improve learning for all.” University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Nevada’s largest university, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), serves nearly 33,000 students, with nearly 40% identifying as Latino. Record enrollment, retention and graduation rates are driven by an approach that forges data-informed connections with students early and often with initiatives that strengthen academic progress, financial stability and proactive advising.
“UNLV is honored to be the first institution in Nevada to earn the Seal of Excelencia, and to be a part of a dedicated group of colleges and universities nationwide recognized for their approach to improving student success,” says Dr. Chris Heavey, interim UNLV president. “At UNLV, data informs decision-making every day across academic, administrative and student support units. Real-time dashboards, analytics and institutional research reports are just a few of the tools that guide our actions to improve outcomes for all of our students, including Latino students.”
Examples include disaggregating data to create clear and visual insights into overall enrollment, persistence and completion trends. The university hosts an annual “Datapalooza” event with faculty, staff and researchers to examine trends and sharpen strategies.
A key initiative to UNLV’s approach to student success includes Rebel Ready Week, an extended orientation and onboarding week for all new students that has helped improve retention rates by 1.3% after just one year. The program is now in its third year and has continued to grow and evolve to meet student needs.
“The Rebel Success Hub, a 360-degree advising platform, has helped identify trends and has enabled staff to respond to emerging student needs,” says Heavey. “Dedicated peer mentors and student outreach specialists support students most at risk of leaving before degree completion.”
RECERTIFIED SEAL OF EXCELENCIA INSTITUTIONS
Mercy University
Celebrating 25 years as an HSI, approximately 48% of students at Mercy University in the New York region identify as Latino. Mercy’s investment in curricular reform is yielding positive outcomes for students and positioning them for positive futures.
“What the Seal framework has done is help us strengthen our culture of continuous improvement around Latino student success,” says Dr. Susan L. Parish, Mercy’s president. “While many institutions measure success by exclusivity, Mercy measures it by inclusivity — how we open doors and empower the students in our communities to achieve their aspirations.”
While acknowledging there is still much work to be done, Mercy has seen considerable gains in student success outcomes. The university has achieved its highest fall-to-spring freshmen retention rate in its history, over 92%. Latino students comprised more than half that class, reaching a term-to-term retention rate above 90%. “These milestones are clear evidence that intentional strategies yield powerful results,” says Parish. San Antonio College
San Antonio College (SAC) is a public, two-year Hispanic Serving Institution in Texas that serves over 19,000 students with Latinos representing 70% of the student population. In the three years since receiving the Seal, SAC’s strategic priorities have guided institutional efforts leading to expanded services and improved persistence and post-completion success rates. The college has revised its program review process to include analysis of comprehensive outcomes including licensure rates, transfer success, career readiness, marketable skills and credential value —ensuring students have clear pathways to economic mobility.
“In 2022, we joined Aspen’s Unlocking Opportunities initiative as a Lead College, and expanded our analysis of post-completion outcomes, tracking graduate employment rates and five-year salary data to ensure family-sustaining wages,” says San Antonio College President Francisco Solis. “We also continue to monitor our transfer success rates, which have grown from 22.8% to 33.4%, exceeding state averages. We renewed our commitment to intentionally review completion in high-wage, high-demand programs, particularly in healthcare and STEM fields.”
University at Albany
Nearly 50% of University at Albany’s (UAlbany) undergraduates come from underrepresented backgrounds and 60% are Pell Grant eligible. UAlbany, which is part of the State University of New York, launched the Financial Assistance Coaching & Tools for Success program to provide students with personalized financial planning.
Approximately 20% of the student body of more than 12,600 identify as Latino. Recognizing that a supportive network of friends and family increases the likelihood of student success, UAlbany developed Great Danes 101, a no-cost semester-long course offered in English and Spanish for families of incoming first-generation students. Since its 2024 launch, more than 1,800 family members have engaged with the course.
“Our work to elevate outcomes for Latino and Latina students strengthens the university for everyone—building a more vibrant, accessible and academically excellent community where we can educate engaged global citizens,” said President Dr. Havidán Rodríguez.
University of California, Santa Cruz
A public four-year Hispanic Serving Research Institution, the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), serves 17,940 undergraduates of which 29% are Latino and 31% first-generation. Known for high-impact research, teaching, public service and social justice, UCSC prioritizes retention, transfer, representation, faculty and curriculum development, affordability and student transitions to boost Latino and all student success.
Recognizing that having diverse employees positively impacts its diverse student body, UCSC endeavors to have faculty and staff that reflect the students. Practices such as inclusive pedagogy and culturally responsive healthcare contribute to students’ educational achievement and well-being.
“It is important to affirm our unwavering commitment to intentionally serve our Latine students, staff and faculty, and our entire community,” says Charis Herzon, director of HSI Initiatives. “We have repeatedly shown that as we know our strengths, challenges, and dreams, we can make improvements that better serve all.”
The University of Texas at Arlington
Both a Carnegie Research 1 and a Hispanic Serving Institution in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, approximately 34% of the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)’s student body of 41,000 are Latino. The university has been recognized for the low student loan debt of its graduates. To achieve that, UTA launched BlazeForward in 2022 for families with an adjusted gross income of $85,000, expanding to $100,000 in 2025. It is a financial support program covering full tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying students.
In terms of academic support, Mavs RISE, an admissions program in the Division of Student Success, serves, supports and empowers conditionally admitted first-year students, 50% of whom are Latino.
“This [recertification] coincides with UTA setting a new record this fall, enrolling more than 5,100 first-time-in-college students — the largest freshman class in its 130-year history and a 7.6% increase compared to fall 2024,” says Jewel Washington, vice president of talent, culture and engagement.
INTENTIONALLY THRIVING INSTITUTIONS
Eight institutions are recognized as ITIs. “We focused on how they were preparing and linking their students and graduates to the workforce and how they were measuring it,” says Santiago. “They can tell us what they’re doing post-completion and ways that prepare, link and measure workforce elements of success.
“In general, these institutions are very comfortable taking their responsibility to go beyond enrolling and graduating students and claiming explicitly and publicly that they have a clear role and accountability for what happens with their graduates after they complete,” she adds.
Arizona State University (ASU)’s First Destination Survey data shows that 70% of Latino graduates are employed and 14% are pursuing further education within six months of graduation. The alumni survey data shows 79% of Latino alumni are employed full-time. This information helps inform programming, partnerships with employers and targeted career readiness initiatives that can positively impact post-graduation outcomes for all students.
Austin Community College District’s micro-credentials program expands post-completion success and economic mobility by delivering fast, focused and free learning experiences. Launched in 2022, it offers 16 five-week, competency-based courses in high-demand areas like digital fluency and professional competencies. It has served over 3,500 participants, with a 71% completion rate for digital badges, leading to academic credit and career advancement.
California State University, Channel Islands, has developed Plot-A-Thon, which introduces students, including non-STEM and Latino learners, to engage with data by offering flexible engagement — in-person, virtual and asynchronous — and workshops across disciplines teaching Excel, Tableau, R, Python and infographics. The program culminates with a data visualization competition, where students work in teams to analyze a surprise dataset and create compelling stories, connecting with employers in the data science field.
A Carnegie Research 1 and HSI institution, Florida International University (FIU) has the Department of Energy (DOE)-FIU Science and Engineering Workforce Development Program, which prepares upper-division undergraduates and graduate STEM students for the U.S. DOE workforce. The program combines coursework, fieldwork and research, including 10-week internships at DOE national laboratories and headquarters.
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in Michigan has less than 10% Latino students, but its targeted outreach and access strategies enhance Latino enrollment through community partnerships, transfer pathways, pipeline development and transfer support. Since 2019, GVSU and Battle Creek Public Schools have partnered to enhance college and career readiness, particularly in education, healthcare and STEM fields.
South Texas College (STC) is an open-access institution at which 95% of students are Hispanic. Its Center for Advanced Training & Apprenticeships connects students to over 17 “earn while you learn” programs in high-wage, high-demand fields like welding, HVAC, industrial maintenance and the region’s first associate degree in nursing apprenticeship (launched 2025).
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has work-based programs that address critical community needs. The Miner Teacher Residency is a year-long, immersive teacher preparation program for teacher candidates, 90% of whom identify as Latino. The overriding goal of the residency is to prepare the highest-quality teachers for classrooms in the El Paso region and beyond. The University of Arizona supports current students and alumni through professional networks, such as the Hispanic Alumni program. It provides networking events, career panels, community leadership and alumni-to-alumni mentoring. Alumni serve as both mentees and mentors, providing culturally informed guidance and career connections.
