Arizona State recognized for commitment to Latino excellence
Jun 25, 2019, 4:15 AM
(Facebook Photo/Arizona State University)
(Facebook Photo/Arizona State University)
PHOENIX– Arizona State University is one of the first nine institutions across the country to receive the Seal of Excelencia certification from Washington D.C. based Excelencia in Education.
The recognition stems from ASU’s demonstration for commitment to serving its Latino students. According to the award, these nine institutions enrolled and graduated about 5% of all Latino students which contributed to Excelencia in Education’s mission to raise the national number.
“The institution pursued comprehensive certification that we call the Seal of Excelencia,” Sarita Brown, President of Excelencia Education, told KTAR News 92.3FM on Monday. “It looks at the institution’s data in all areas from admission all the way through to completion.”
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Institutions provide data on the enrollment, retention and representation of Latinos at the university. They also most demonstrate that they’ve provided financial support to these students, whether it’s through Pell grants, institutional aid, work-study or grants. Additionally, they’re able to show that they have programs and campus leaders in place to help Latino student success.
“What each institution received was recognition for the work that they’ve achieved and an indication from Excelencia to the country that these are institutions to look at more deeply,” Brown said.
I’m proud to share that @ASU has earned the inaugural #SealOfExcelencia from @EdExcelencia for our committed work in support of Latinx student success, a key factor in #EnsuringAmericasFuture.
— Michael Crow (@michaelcrow) June 20, 2019
Brown hopes that institutions will continue to grow and provide additional resources to Latino students. According to Excelencia in Education’s website, they hope to see a significant increase in the percentage of degree-seeking Latinos increase by 2030.
According to a report by Arizona State, Hispanics/ Latinos accounted for 24% of the undergraduate enrollment in Fall 2018. That number was up from 22.8% from its Fall 2017 enrollment.
“For any institution and any organization to be the starter bell for something that will be national is something to keep your eye on,” Brown said.
University of Arizona was also one of the nine schools recognized with the certification.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Madison Spence contributed to this report.
