Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action - 2024
Excelencia in Education
April 2024
Overview
For 20 years, Excelencia has brought attention to noteworthy efforts that inspire and support educators, community leaders, funders, and policymakers to replicate and bring to scale evidence-based practices. Essential to this effort is Examples of Excelencia, the only national data-driven initiative to identify and promote programs that increase Latino student success in higher education.
This compilation identifies evidence-based programs at the forefront of improving higher educational achievement for Latinos. These programs emphasize cultural responsiveness and take asset-based approaches to intentionally serving Latinos, as well as other post-traditional students, in five key areas.
Engagement to Prepare Students and Families for College
Given the degree attainment needed to ensure the country’s economic and civic future, there is an opportunity to expand and enhance the engagement of students and their families in the college going process. Through strategic partnerships, bilingual services, mentoring, and high touch outreach, the following programs ensure students and their families are informed and supported as they navigate opportunities for post-secondary education.
Click the expand symbol to find out which programs have a focus in college preparation.
Program Name: Center for Educational Partnerships
Institution/Organization: California State University, Fullerton
State: California
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/center-for-educational-partnerships
Program Name: College Success Program - Hyde Square Task Force
Institution/Organization: Hyde Square Task Force
State: Massachusetts
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/college-success-program-hyde-square-task-force
Program Name: Influence Student Potential and Increase Representation in Education (INSPIRE)
Institution/Organization: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
State: Illinois
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/influence-student-potential-and-increase-representation-in-education-inspire
Program Name: Latino Initiative
Institution/Organization: Utah Valley University
State: Utah
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/latino-initiative
Program Name: Latinx Leadership and College Experience Camp (LLCEC)
Institution/Organization: Bluegrass Community and Technical College
State: Kentucky
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/latinx-leadership-and-college-experience-camp-llcec
Program Name: Latino U Scholars
Institution/Organization: Latino U College Access (LUCA)
State: New York
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/latino-u-scholars
Program Name: TuFuturo
Institution/Organization: Community Education Coalition
State: Indiana
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/tufuturo
First-Year Experiences Building Strong Foundations for Success
Institutions have the opportunity to be proactive with first-year students to ensure they not only enroll but stay with them. Intentional, well-designed, first-year support programs can have a significant impact on students transitioning to college or university, particularly Latino students. The following programs demonstrate such impact through practices like summer bridge programs, financial support, and academic planning. By providing additional services such as individualized mentoring, career exploration, bilingual services, and leadership development these programs not only support but empower students to navigate the complexities of college life with confidence and a sense of belonging.
Click the expand symbol to find out which programs have a focus in first year programming.
Program Name: Connect4Success (C4S)
Institution/Organization: Miami Dade College
State: Florida
Program Name: CSUN Bridge to the Future Scholars Program
Institution/Organization: California State University, Northridge
State: California
Program Name: Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program
Institution/Organization: County College of Morris
State: New Jersey
Program Name: Engage. Develop. Grow. Empower. (EDGE)/plEDGE Program
Institution/Organization: College of the Desert
State: California
Program Name: Gaining Access ‘N Academic Success (GANAS)
Institution/Organization: California State University, East Bay
State: California
Program Name: Learning Framework Course
Institution/Organization: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
State: Texas
Program Name: Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) Program
Institution/Organization: Mercy University
State: New York
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/personalized-achievement-contract-pact-program
Bilingualism Enhancing Academic and Career Connections
Given Spanish is a local and global language the demand for Spanish speakers in multiple professions will continue to be a need. Bilingual Latino students are uniquely positioned to have these needed language skills and the cultural contexts to better understand and serve others in their communities and in their future careers. The programs below leverage community partnerships, bicultural pedagogy, and experiential learning to support student academic and career success. Many of their alumni are becoming leaders and change agents in their professions.
Click the expand symbol to find out which programs have a focus in bilingual programming.
Program Name: Ánimo Latinx Counseling Emphasis
Institution/Organization: California State University, Fullerton
State: California
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/animo-latinx-counseling-emphasis
Program Name: Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)
Institution/Organization: Saint Augustine College
State: Illinois
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/bachelor-social-work
Program Name: English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program
Institution/Organization: Reading Area Community College
State: Pennsylvania
Program Name: Latinx Leadership Initiative (LLI)
Institution/Organization: Boston College, School of Social Work
State: Massachusetts
Program Name: Medical Spanish Minor
Institution/Organization: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
State: Texas
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/minor-medical-spanish
Program Name: PIONERAS (Professional Improvement through Optimization of Native-language Education and the Realization of Academic/familial Symbiosis)
Institution/Organization: Texas Woman’s University
State: Texas
Program Name: Supera Spanish Speaking Program (SSP)
Institution/Organization: Kean University
State: New Jersey
Experiences and Partnerships Building Career Pathways
The more institutions can provide experiences and partnerships beyond the classroom then the more students can move directly into their career path, and into higher wages. Since most Latino students are working while attending college, these programs are intentional about career connections within their program of study. They use cohort groupings, mentorship, research opportunities, and employer connections to enhance their academic degree programs.
Click left arrow to find out which programs have a focus in career/workforce.
Program Name: Bachelor of Science in Health Science
Institution/Organization: Rush University
State: Illinois
Program Name: Engineering Program at Wright College
Institution/Organization: City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College
State: Illinois
Program Name: Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL)
Institution/Organization: Adams State University
State: Colorado
Program Name: Institute of Interdisciplinary Research (IIR)
Institution/Organization: University of Puerto Rico, Cayey
State: Puerto Rico
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/ programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/institute-interdisciplinary-research
Program Name: M.S. in Environmental Science
Institution/Organization: The University of Texas at San Antonio
State: Texas
Program Name: Spanish Community Translation and Interpreting Program
Institution/Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
State: Texas
Program Name: Wood Technology Program
Institution/Organization: Laney College
State: California
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/ programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/wood-technology-program
Gender-Based Learning Communities to Support Success
Gender-based programming has emerged as a transformative approach to address and mitigate the disparities faced by students based on gender, particularly within underrepresented communities. These programs engage parents, provide tutoring, utilize cohort groupings, and build strong mentoring relationships. These programs below build confidence, inspire ambition, and illuminate the possibilities that lie ahead, particularly in fields where they have been historically marginalized.
Click left arrow to find out which programs have a focus in Latina/Latino gender-based programming.
Program Name: ¡Adelante Latina!
Institution/Organization: ¡Adelante Latina!
State: Maryland
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/adelante-latina
Program Name: Con Mi MADRE
Institution/Organization: Con Mi MADRE
State: Texas
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/con-mi-madre
Program Name: Encuentros Leadership Preparatory Academy
Institution/Organization: Encuentros Leadership
State: California
Program Name: Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program (HMDP)
Institution/Organization: Arizona State University
State: Arizona
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/hispanic-mother-daughter-program
Program Name: Project Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success (MALES)
Institution/Organization: University of Texas, Austin
State: Texas
Program Name: Mathematics Intensive Summer Session (MISS)
Institution/Organization: California State University, Fullerton
State: California
Learn More: https://www.edexcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database/mathematics-intensive-summer-session-miss
Program Name: Sam Houston Establishing Leadership In and Through Education (SH ELITE)
Institution/Organization: Sam Houston State University
State: Texas
The Growing What Works (GWW) Database:
Connecting You to Our Recognized Programs
Programs from the compilation are featured in Excelencia’s Growing What Works (GWW) Database — the only national, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, policymakers, and others interested in effective programs for Latino students.
Visit our GWW Database: EdExcelencia.org/programs-initiatives/growing-what-works-database
“Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action – 2024” benefited from the support and public leadership of 24 colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia:
