Examples of ¡Excelencia!
Meeting the increasing challenges of a global economy requires all U.S. citizens are well educated, especially the growing Latino population. Now, more than ever, it is necessary to build momentum to capture the talents of Latino students and enhance their transitions into a highly skilled workforce and into leadership roles in the U.S. society.
Launched in 2005, the Examples of Excelencia initiative is designed to help reach this goal by identifying and honoring programs and departments at the forefront of increasing academic opportunities and improving achievement for Latino students at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. We focus on results and disseminating these promising practices to others interested in serving Latino students. We invite you to make a nomination for a program you believe deserves to be recognized as an Example of Excelencia.
Initiative goals
Through the Examples of Excelencia initiative, we hope to achieve three major goals:
- Focus on better results for Latino students – We want to identify good ideas, tactics and strategies at work within colleges and universities today and share this information with other educators and policymakers to make an even bigger impact.
- Recognition – We want to offer public recognition to the educators, community based organizations and institutions who lead these efforts by making good use of resources to serve Latino college-going students and all students well.
- Dissemination – We want to share action oriented profiles about these effective efforts with educators, policymakers and business leaders ready to invest time and resources in serving Latino students and thus growing the country’s future workforce and leadership.
Nominations
The 2012 Examples of Excelencia call for nominations began January 25 and will run through April 16, 2012. Programs or departments of institutions of higher education may submit as associate, baccalaureate or graduate level nominations. Nominations can be made within one of these categories (students served by the nominated program may be at mixed-levels). One program at each level will be recognized as the 2012 Example of Excelencia.
Although nominated programs should have a demonstrated record of achievement in accelerating Latino student success in higher education, nominations for small and/or new programs are encouraged.
The following information is required for nominations:
- Nominees contact information
- Contact information for key program or department personnel
- Reason why nominee nominated the program or department for the Examples of Excelencia.
Once a nomination is submitted, Excelencia in Education staff contacted the key program or department personnel included in the nomination to invite them to complete a profile in order to be considered for the 2012 Examples of Excelencia.
Who may nominate?
Individuals and representatives of institutions and organizations are encouraged to make nominations. Nominees are encouraged to think about their community and professional networks and nominate programs or departments providing direct services in access, outreach, and academic and professional advancement with a record of outstanding results for Latino students.
Individuals within programs and departments may nominate their own programs. We also encourage nominations from programs or departments previously submitted but not selected as the Example of Excelencia Honorees.
What we’re looking for
We are looking for programs and departments with the following characteristics:
- Record of achievement in graduating Latino students
- Evidence of effectiveness in serving Latino students
- Leadership with demonstrated commitment to accelerating Latino student achievement by measuring progress and implementing practices and policies to achieve the goal
- Strong networks with other stakeholders, including schools and colleges, clinics, other community-based organizations, practitioners, and professionals
- Professional staff focused on addressing the needs of Latino students and all students
- Services and programs that integrate Latino culture and enhance Latino students’ navigation between their homes, community, schools and their professions
How do I nominate?
Nominations for the 2012 Examples of Excelencia are accepted from January 25 to April 16, 2012. Please join us for the Celebración de Excelencia in Washington, DC on October 2, 2012 to recognize the 2012 Examples of Excelencia.
Programs or departments need to be nominated and a profile needs to be completed to be considered for the 2012 Examples of Excelencia. Click here to nominate.
If you are nominating your own program/department, click here to complete your program/department profile.
Click here to download Frequently Asked Questions and Profile Submission Instructions.
Review process
Recognizing the importance of evidence-based evaluation, the Examples of Excelencia initiative follows a two-step review process:
- Finalists are identified through analysis of submitted information to assess the nomination's impact on Latino achievement in higher education.
- A committee comprised of national experts assesses and selects one Example of Excelencia at each academic level.
Benefits to selected programs and departments
Selected programs or departments will receive the following:
- A financial award of $5,000 to be used to support their efforts;
- Be recognized at the Celebración de Excelencia and other special events;
- Inclusion in the 2012 edition of What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education;
- Inclusion in the Growing What Works Database, a nationally accessible database which allows users to search and find promising practices accelerating Latino student success in higher education;
- Receive national media attention and be recognized in Excelencia's online communication.
Benefits of making a nomination to you, your institution or organization
All individuals, institutions, and organizations that made a nomination will:
- Receive recognition at the Celebración de Excelencia on October 2, 2012 with policymakers, educators, and civic leaders to recognize these effective programs or departments;
- Be invited to the ALASS (Accelerating Latino Student Success) Workshop with the 2012 Examples of Excelencia on October 3, 2012;
- Be added to Excelencia in Education’s mailing list and receive updates on Latino student success in higher education.;
Dissemination Partners
Our dissemination partners help to inform and encourage educators, policy makers, and business leaders to nominate to the annual Examples of Excelencia initiative.
Previous Examples of Excelencia
In 2011 three programs at institutions of higher education were chosen based on their evidence of boosting Latino college enrollment, performance, or graduation. Learn more about the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Examples of Excelencia recipients.
Questions
If you have questions regarding Examples of Excelencia, please email Nominations@edexcelencia.org.
- 2008 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education
- 2009 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education
- 2010 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education
- 2011 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education
- ¡Excelencia in Education! Honors 2009 Examples of ¡Excelencia!
- 2007 Examples of ¡Excelencia!: Ivelisse Estrada Video Address
- 2007 Examples Showcase Highlights
- 2007 Examples Showcase: Compact for Success
- 2008 Celebracion de Excelencia Highlights
- 2008 Examples of ¡Excelencia! Capitol Hill Showcase Highlights
- 2008 Examples of ¡Excelencia! Welcome Message from Henry Cisneros
- 2010 Celebración de Excelencia
- 2010 Examples of Excelencia - Carreras en Salud (Careers in Health)
- 2010 Examples of Excelencia - College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)
- 2010 Examples of Excelencia - Hispanic Theological Initiative (HTI)
- 2011 Celebración de Excelencia
- 2011 Example of Excelencia - Early College High School (ECHS) Initiative
- 2011 Example of Excelencia - Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Program at the Carlos Albizu University (CAU)
- 2011 Example of Excelencia - STEP 2 (Successful Tranisition to Educator Preparation)
- Carreras en Salud (Carrers in Health) - Madeline Roman-Vargas
- College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) - Minerva Gonzalez
- Dr. John Hope Franklin Award
- Examples 2009: Barbara Burke
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! 2008: Norman Millar, Director of the School of Architecture
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! 2008: Richard Cherwitz, Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! 2008: Tony Bracamonte, Director, Bilingual Nursing Fellows Program
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! 2009 Recipient: Frank García, The Puente Project
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! 2009 Recipients: John P. Elder, BACH
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! Recipient: Barbara Burke, SEES
- Examples of ¡Excelencia! Selection Process Discussed by Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, NALEO Educational Fund
- Excelencia in Education 2007 Examples Showcase: Enlace
- Excelencia in Education 2007 Examples Showcase: PSSSP
- Highlights from the 2009 Examples of ¡Excelencia!
- Princeton Theological Seminary - Joanne Rodriguez
- Why Participate in the Examples of Excelencia? Comments by Gregory Vincent, Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
- Why Participate? - Comments from Gregory Vincent, Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin
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| 2012-Examples_of_Excelencia_Nomination_&_Profile_Instructions.pdf | 489.85 KB |
- La Salle University's BUSCA Program a Finalist in Excelencia in Education Award for Improving Higher Educational Achievement for Latino Students
- The Future Belongs to Woodbury
- Architect magazine: 'The Future Belongs to Woodbury'
- Excelencia in Education Awards Premier Honor to CSUSM
- Excelencia in Education President Lauds Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program
- Excelencia in Education Honors Programs at 2 Year and 4 Year Colleges & Universities Producing Workforce Success for Latino Students
- Excelencia in Education recognizes Cal State San Bernardino's LEAD organization
- Excelencia in Education Honors 2010 Examples of Excelencia
- Latino Student-focused College Programs Honored at U.S. Capitol
- Hispanic Theological Initiative Earns Excelencia In Education Honors
- Latinos Find Success in School of Architecture
- Hinojosa Remarks to ¡Excelencia! in Education
- ACE Wins Award, Partners With PetSmart
- Sallie Mae Sponsorship Highlights Programs Accelerating Latino Student Success
- Diverse Presents Award to Arturo Madrid During the 2009 Examples of ¡Excelencia!
- Cal Poly Pomona Receives Award for Commitment to Latino Student Success
- Cal Poly Pomona Recognized for Supporting Latino Students
- Spanish Facilitator Program Flourishes
- National Group Honors First-Year Transition Program
- UNC Program Receives Recognition from ¡Excelencia in Education!
- OLLU psychology program wins award
Why Participate?

Baccalaureate Level

Graduate Level

Selection Process






