Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, announced Oct. 1 that Sul Ross State University has earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia.
The seal is a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latino students.
SRSU is the only institution in Texas and is one of just eight colleges and universities to earn the Seal of Excelencia in 2024. In 2018, Excelencia introduced the seal to certify trendsetting 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’ intentionality and impact in improving outcomes such as retention, financial support and degree completion for Latino students by aligning efforts across data, practice and leadership. Ultimately, this process strengthens efforts to serve all students. Seal certification remains valid for three years, after which institutions have the opportunity to recertify progress.
“Seal of Excelencia certified institutions are exemplars and represent trendsetting leadership that transforms colleges and universities to engage, enroll and graduate today’s students, who are increasingly Latino,” said SRSU President Carlos Hernandez. “Institutions that earn this designation are ensuring America’s future through their steadfast commitment to develop and advance the talents of Latino students.”
Higher education, business, philanthropy and government leaders in Excelencia’s community of common cause convened in Washington, D.C., this week to recognize SRSU as one of eight institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia for the first time, as well as nine other institutions that earned recertification. The announcement was part of the organization’s National Policy Forum, focused on innovating policies to accelerate Latinos’ degree attainment and strengthen our country’s civic leadership and workforce. The 17 seal-certified institutions exemplify the kinds of programs and practices that inform good policy.
“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 of Education. “They demonstrate commitment to Latino student success through impact and ongoing self-assessment.”
This year’s cohort of newly certified and recertified institutions belongs to a collective of 46 colleges and universities that have earned the Seal. Together, they represent less than one percent of all institutions but enroll 17 percent and graduate 19 percent of all Latino students nationwide.
“Students and families as well as leaders in philanthropy, business and government look to colleges and universities that earned the Seal of Excelencia when making their institutional choices,” said Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education. “Excelencia is proud to partner with institutions ensuring America’s bright future by advancing the talents of the Latino community.
Sul Ross is now one of only 84 colleges and universities in the U.S. and 13 in Texas to earn the seal, including Angelo State University, Austin Community College, El Paso Community College, St. Edward’s University, Texas A&M-San Antonio, Texas State University, Texas Woman’s University, University of Texas-Austin, University of Texas-Arlington, University of Texas-El Paso, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and University of Texas-San Antonio.
Additionally, SRSU has been chosen as one of just eight universities in the country to act as a mentor and model for a cohort of institutions in their transformation to becoming places where Latino students thrive.