Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts accelerating Latino student success in higher education, announced this week UC Riverside has been recertified with the Seal of Excelencia for 2024-27. UCR received its first three-year recognition in 2021. 

This year, eight institutions earned the Seal of Excelencia and nine earned recertification. These 17 institutions are among 46 colleges and universities that have earned the seal from Excelencia in Education for their commitment to serving Latino students. Together, they represent less than 1% of all institutions but enroll 17% and graduate 19% of all Latino students nationwide. 

“Today, we’re moving toward opportunity and success for more of our Latino students,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said at Excelencia’s announcement in Washington, DC, this week. “...When we do the hard work, when we’re relentless in our care for the seed of an idea, we can and will grow success for Latino students in higher education.”

In recognizing UCR, Excelencia in Education pointed to the university’s “focus on enhancing graduation rates, narrowing equity disparities, and broadening the scope of high-impact practices and career and leadership development opportunities for more than 22,000 undergraduates, including more than 9,000 Latino students.”

Excelencia in Education noted the effectiveness of UCR Learning Communities in helping students transition to the university experience, peer mentoring, and providing financial support to underserved students. 

In 2018, Excelencia in Education introduced the Seal of Excelencia to certify colleges and universities for their efforts to become learning environments where Latino, and all, students thrive. The Seal of Excelencia framework represents a rigorous assessment of certified institutions’ impact in improving outcomes such as retention, financial support, and degree completion for Latino students by aligning efforts across data, practice, and leadership. 

Seal certification remains valid for three years, after which institutions have the opportunity to recertify progress.  

“The colleges and universities that earn the Seal of Excelencia lead the charge in meeting our nation’s degree attainment goals,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education. “They demonstrate commitment to Latino student success through impact and ongoing self-assessment.”  

To earn the Seal of Excelencia, institutions must demonstrate:  

• An intentional, institutional focus on advancing Latino student success by aligning data and practice 
• Deliberate and ongoing assessment to identify and implement strategies that improve Latino student achievement  
• Leadership commitment to continue transforming into an environment where Latino students thrive 
• A long-term and unwavering commitment to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students 

For more information, visit edexcelencia.org.