TWU earns prestigious certification for Latino student excellence

Sept. 29, 2023 ― DENTON ― A national organization that promotes Latino student success in higher education has certified Texas Woman’s University with the Seal of Excelencia, which distinguishes institutions as among the best for meeting needs of Latino students.

Texas Woman’s was one of nine institutions ― and three in Texas ― to earn for the first time Excelencia in Education’s coveted seal. The newly certified institutions were announced today at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. The institutions were recognized before an audience of higher education, foundation and policy leaders.

This year’s cohort of nine newly certified and five recertified institutions belongs to a collective of 39 seal-certified colleges and universities representing less than 1% of all higher education institutions, but enrolling over 15% of all Latino students and graduating 17% of all Latino graduates nationwide in the most recent year. 

In partnership with Excelencia, they lead and transform higher education to advance Latino talent vital to the country’s workforce and economy. 

“There is a real difference between colleges and universities that enroll Latino students and those that intentionally serve them,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education. “Those that earn the seal are trendsetters on a journey of transformation, showing what it takes to progressively increase positive outcomes for Latino, and all, students to compel others ready to meet the mission.”

The other Texas institutions that earned the seal this year were Angelo State University in San Angelo and St. Edward’s University in Austin.

“As the nation’s largest university with a woman-focused mission, we know a thing or two about how intentionality in responding to the needs of a particular population can have positive effects ― even for the 10% of students who identify as male,” said Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten. “Earning the Seal of Excelencia affirms our commitment to intentionally aligning outcomes with practices and strategies that lead to not only Latinx student success but to all our graduates thriving professionally and in life more generally. Adelante!”

Earlier this fall, Excelencia in Education named TWU’s Certificate of Biliteracy a national top five graduate program advancing Latino student success in higher education. It was one of 19 programs across the nation that were recognized as Examples of Excelencia for intentionally serving Latino higher education students with culturally relevant, evidence-based practices.

Institutions in Excelencia’s national network of Presidents for Latino Student Success, which have committed to making their campuses learning environments where Latino students succeed, are eligible to apply for the seal.

To earn the seal, institutions must demonstrate:

• Evidence of effectiveness and intentionality in institutional practices serving Latino students.
• Positive momentum for Latino student progress in their data.
• Dedication to transforming the institution into an environment where Latino students thrive.
• Strategies in leadership that clearly articulate institutional focus on advancing Latino student success.

Excelencia has offered the Seal of Excelencia — a national certification valid for three years — since 2018 to recognize institutions that accelerate Latino student success and meet the overall mission of higher education. The Seal of Excelencia framework is a comprehensive institutional self-assessment tool for aligning and progressing efforts to intentionally serve Latino, and all, students across data, practice, and leadership.

Page last updated 11:41 AM, September 29, 2023