Excelencia in Education - Why Participate?

**What is Examples of Excelencia?**

Examples of Excelencia is the only national data-driven effort that recognizes programs at the associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organization levels with evidence of effectiveness in increasing Latino student success in higher education. Annually, Excelencia seeks out programs for Examples of Excelencia through a rigorous review of profile submissions that look at intentionality and evidence of effectiveness in serving Latino students. The process launches with a national call for nominations and culminates in a public celebration of featured programs at Celebración de Excelencia.

"Celebración de Excelencia is a reminder that you are not alone. Learning from what other people are doing is always really positive. You want to look for positive connections while being excited about finding those gaps, then reach out and ask for help, and not try to figure it all out on your own.” Irene Oujo, Executive Director of the Hispanic Center, Becton College at Fairleigh Dickinson University

We have 21 years of experience promoting what works for Latino students.

Since its inception, more than 2,000 program profiles have been submitted for consideration and over 400 programs have been highlighted by Excelencia in Education. The large number of nominations and evidence-based practices show that there is a significant body of existing practices increasing Latino student success across the country. Examples of Excelencia is a compilation of these evidence-based practices and serves as a resource for other institutions and community-based organizations considering efforts to improve their services to Latino students.

In 2024, Examples of Excelencia received 103 program submissions representing 20 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Of these 103 programs, eighteen programs were recognized as 2024 Examples of Excelencia Finalists. On September 30, four programs were further recognized as the 2024 Examples of Excelencia for their respective levels. We invite you to view their entries in our Growing What Works Database, the only national, online searchable database that serves to promote effective institutional practices for Latino students.

Below we outline our recognition categories and the ways Excelencia brings positive attention to positive work.

**How does Excelencia in Education recognize programs?**

A program may be recognized as the Example of Excelencia, a Finalist, or a Program to Watch at the associate, baccalaureate, graduate, or community-based organization level. Learn more about the recognition categories below.

Examples of Excelencia

Excelencia in Education's external selection committee selects one exemplary program in the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels, as well as at community-based organizations, as the Example of Excelencia for that year. The committee selects the four programs from among the Finalists.

Click here to learn which programs were recognized as the 2024 Examples of Excelencia.

**Examples of Excelencia Finalists**

Excelencia identifies programs with intentionality and evidence of effectiveness in improving outcomes for Latino students through culturally responsive, data-driven efforts. Finalists that meet the participation criteria are eligible and welcome to participate in Examples of Excelencia every year until they are recognized as the Example of Excelencia at their respective level.

Click here to read about the 2024 Examples of Excelencia Finalists.

Programs to Watch

Excelencia recognizes up-and-coming programs for their positive impact on the success of Latino students and how they are growing their evidence of effectiveness. Programs to Watch that meet the participation criteria are eligible and welcome to submit their profile every year until they are recognized as the Example of Excelencia at their respective level.

Click here to view a list of the 2024 Programs to Watch.

**How does Excelencia bring attention to recognized programs?**

We leverage our access to the national stage to make a positive contribution by recognizing, celebrating, and strengthening what works for Latino, and all, students. Through Examples of Excelencia, we bring to a national audience evidence-based practices in higher education institutions and community-based organizations across the country that are intentionally serving Latino students.

At Excelencia in Education, our confianza-based approach cultivates an engagement that lasts beyond the moment of recognition. As part of our Programs for Latino Student Success, these programs are featured in our research, present at institutes and conferences, and have small, cohort-based conversations to sustain, scale, or replicate their efforts. In addition, recognized programs receive the following:

What Works for Latino Students Compendia Series

Excelencia seeks to broaden the scope of knowledge surrounding effective practices for Latino students and bring attention to the noteworthy work that may be overlooked by traditional best-practices models. The What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education compendium is an annual publication that features programs recognized through Examples of Excelencia. By sharing what works we hope to prompt a wide array of decision makers to take an asset-based approach to serving Latino students and inspire them to work to accelerate Latino student success by supporting, replicating, and bringing to scale these evidence-based practices. View the 2024 Compendium here.

Each annual compendium is indexed in ERIC, the online library of education research and information, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) of the U.S. Department of Education.