Initiative Overview

Introduction

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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 county’s future workforce and leadership.

Nominations

Excelencia in Education will accept online nominations for the 2009 Examples of Excelencia initiative beginning January 12, 2009. Programs and departments may be submitted as Associate, Baccalaureate or Graduate level nominations. Nominations must 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 2009 Example of Excelencia.

Nominated programs should have a demonstrated record of achievement in accelerating Latino student success in higher education. Although, small and/or new programs are welcome to participate as well.

Who may nominate?

Individuals and representatives of institutions and organizations are encouraged to make nominations. Think about your community and professional networks and tell us about programs and 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 can nominate their own programs. We also encourage nominations from programs or departments previously submitted but not selected as the years’ Example of Excelencia. 

What we’re looking for

We are looking for programs and departments with the following characteristics:

• Record of achievement in graduating 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?

We will accept online nominations from January 12, 2009 through May 15, 2009.

Review process

Recognizing the importance of evidence-based evaluation, the Examples of Excelencia initiative follows a two step selection process:

• Semi-finalists are identified through analysis of submitted information and external public data sources 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 level.

The 2009 selection committee is being constituted and will be posted shortly.

Benefits to selected programs and departments

The year’s selected programs or departments will:

• Receive a $5,000 award to be used to support their efforts;
• Be recognized at the Celebración de Excelencia;
• Be highlighted throughout the following year; and,    
• Be added to the growing library of successful strategies for Latino students available from Excelencia online through the annual compendium.

Benefits of making a nomination to you, your institution or organization

All individuals, institutions and organizations that make a nomination will:

• Receive a thank you letter and an invitation to a special briefing with the years’ Examples of Excelencia;
• Be recognized in documents summarizing the year’s nominations;
• Be invited to the Celebración de Excelencia with policymakers, educators and civic leaders to recognize these effective programs or departments;
• Be added to Excelencia in Education’s mailing list; and,
• Be invited to the Capitol Hill Examples of Excelencia Briefing and Showcase.

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. They include the ACT, the California State University System, the Council of Graduate Schools, Hispanic-Serving Institutions ENews, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officers (NALEO) Educational Fund, National College Access Network (NCAN), National Education Association (NEA), Pathways to College, the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, Sallie Mae Inc. and others.

Previous Examples of Excelencia

In 2008 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 and 2008 Examples of Excelencia recipients.

Questions

If you have questions regarding Examples of Excelencia, please contact Lourdes Guerrero, Programs and Communication Manager, at lguerrero@edexcelencia.org  or call 818-920-3485.