Institutional Capacity Building Opportunities
Excelencia in Education’s mission is to accelerate Latino student success, while increasing all student success, to close postsecondary attainment gaps and advance our families, communities, and nation. We are committed to significantly increasing the number of students earning college degrees by 2030 in partnership with institutions.
To support and reinforce institutional capacity to more intentionally serve, Excelencia has created a capacity building strategy to meet institutions where they are in their transformation journey and help colleges and universities embed student-centered data-driven accountability cycles into their strategies and practices to build sustainable, campus-wide habits of continuous improvement.
Through a collaborative partnership, Excelencia engages institutions in tailored capacity building programming of in-depth content and rigorous tools for data-informed action resulting in systemic change across the institution.
Excelencia’s capacity building programming offers institutions, as cohorts of peer institutions, the opportunity to examine their own data, practices, and leadership strategies to demonstrate measurable outcomes that resonate with funders, policymakers, and stakeholders, bridging internal growth with external proof of impact on Latino, and all, student success. The learning and knowledge gained through Excelencia’s capacity building programming builds momentum and increases institutional capacity to transform into learning environments where Latino, and all, students thrive.
As a trusted and respected convener, Excelencia’s capacity building opportunities offer institutional teams:
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Interactive sessions by subject matter specialists, policy makers, researchers, leaders in higher education, and Seal of Excelencia certified institutional and Examples of Excelencia program representatives;
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Asset-based discussions on data, evidence-based practices, leadership, and policy with a student-centered lens;
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Learning and networking environments with other institutions as cohorts to build communities of common cause and practice sharing experiences, strategies, practices, strengths, and opportunities;
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Dedicated time and space for teams to reflect, discuss, and develop tactical action plans for campus-wide implementation using Excelencia’s robust tools; and,
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Facilitated engagement with peer teams as a cohort of institutions for continued learning and sharing at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up sessions after each institute.
Excelencia leverages more than 20 years of experience listening to, learning from, and working with colleges and universities in transforming their campuses into places where Latino, and all, students thrive. In this collaborative partnership, Excelencia offers curated content and community building that supports institutions in their journey to more intentionally SERVE Latino, and all, students.
2026 Excelencia's Capacity Building Programming
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Data Institute
- Two virtual options to choose from:
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#1 - 3 virtual modules on May 5, 12, 19
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#2 - 3 virtual modules on July 14, 21, 28
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- Two virtual options to choose from:
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Evidence-Based Practices Institute
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3 virtual modules on June 9, 16, 23
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Post-Completion Institute
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3 virtual modules on August 4, 11, 18
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Alignment Institute
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3 virtual modules on October 13, 20, 27
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All institutes will have three virtual follow-up sessions at the 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month milestones after each institute. All institutes have limited space so it’s essential to apply early. Additional information and intake form links can be found here.
Institutes
A self-assessment tool that provides a starting point for institutions to assess with a student-centered lens who they are serving, not serving, and want to serve with data, practice, and leadership. Three virtual facilitated cohorts to choose from, each with an onboarding session and a follow-up session.
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Spring Cohort: virtual sessions on April 22 and May 27
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Summer Cohort: virtual sessions on June 24 and August 5
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Fall Cohort: virtual sessions on October 14 and November 18
A SSITA Intake form and additional information can be found here.
SSITA
(Seal Serving Institutional Transformation Assessment)
What Works Workshops
Finding What Works: Exploring Your Campus for Impactful Programs - A workshop series to support your institution's journey in identifying programs serving Latino, and all, students and exploring their impact. Two virtual facilitated cohorts to choose from. Registration information coming soon.
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March Cohort: virtual sessions on March 5 and 12
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October Cohort: virtual sessions on October 15 and 22
Sharing Excellence: A Workshop to Craft Stories of Impactful Programs – A workshop series that offers higher education leaders a writing lab experience to craft a narrative of your program efforts grounded in intentionality and evidence. Registration information coming soon.
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Three virtual sessions on February 24, 25 and 26.
2026 Examples of Excelencia Submission Webinar - During this one-hour virtual session, the Institutional Programs team will provide an overview of the submission process, including the changes for 2026. Virtual on February 11. Registration information coming soon.
2026 Seal of Excelencia Certification Application Webinar - Webinar provides an overview of the 2026 application and review processes, key dates, and support and resources available. It will also offer an opportunity to hear from 2025 Seal of Excelencia certified institutions. Virtual on March 30. Register here.
Webinars
For more information or for any questions, please email our team at InstCapacity@EdExcelencia.org.