Erika Beck is President of California State University-Northridge and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page California State University-Northridge Erika Beck President Institution website: https://www.csun.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.csun.edu/office-of-the-president/erika-d-beck-phd-biography Erika Beck is President of California State University-Northridge and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Certified Institution: 2023-2026 In Fall 2022, California State University (CSU) Northridge enrolled about 36,000 students, of whom 57% identified as Latinx, over 70% as first-generation college students, and 60% from historically underrepresented groups, representative of the Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley racial and economic diversity they serve. CSU Northridge’s top priority is to shape an inclusive future as an HSI by leveraging the Seal of Excelencia’s core components of data, practice, and leadership. CSU Northridge is contributing to the national movement of intentionally serving Latinx students while serving all as the lead in the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub, advancing CSUN’s institutional transformation and supporting HSIs CSU-wide and nationally.

Excelencia's 2023 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education compendium recognizes programs making a positive difference in their campus and community. < Back 2023 What Works for Latino Students in Higher Education Excelencia in Education September 2023 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Since 2005, Excelencia in Education has led the Examples of Excelencia , the only national data-driven initiative that recognizes programs at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate level as well as at community-based organizations with evidence of effectiveness in increasing Latino student success amongst all served. Across 18 years, over 2,000 programs have been submitted for consideration and over 400 programs have been highlighted. This year, our compendium recognizes the robust efforts that practitioners across the country are making through our four Examples of Excelencia , nineteen Finalists , and eight Programs to Watch . These programs join a strong history of recognizing what works and each program described in this compendium is making a difference in the lives of their students, their campus, and their community. They show what is possible when institutions and organizations intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all students. Excelencia in Education invites you to learn more about the programs that this year best embodies the spirit of Examples of Excelencia . 2023 Examples of Excelencia ASSOCIATE LEVEL: Engineering Program at Wright | City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College (IL) Institution/Organization: City Colleges of Chicago, Wilbur Wright College State: Illinois Issue Area: Academic Program Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Transfer BACCALAUREATE LEVEL: Spanish Community Translation and Interpreting Program | The University of Texas at Arlington (TX) Institution/Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington State: Texas Issue Area: Academic Program Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Discipline/Subject GRADUATE LEVEL: Graduate Equity Fellowship Program | California State University, Chico (CA) Institution/Organization: California State University, Chico State: California Issue Area: Retention Program Focus: Career/Workforce, Mentoring COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION LEVEL: College and Career Success | Breakthrough Central Texas (TX) Institution/Organization: Breakthrough Central Texas State: Texas Issue Area: Support Services Program Focus: First-Year Support, Mentoring Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Excelencia tracks 4 measures of equity gaps to inform action: Latinos' enrollment and attainment growth, and Latinos’ progress in graduation and completion rates. < Back Closing the Equity Gap in Educational Attainment for Latinos September 2018 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview The nation can increase degree attainment for all, but closing the gap between Latinos and other groups requires an intentional and tactical strategy to accelerate Latinos’ attainment. This is not an “us vs. them” approach. Excelencia in Education is tracking four measures of equity gaps to inform action: Latinos’ growth in: 1) enrollment, and, 2) attainment, and Latinos’ progress in: 3) graduation rates, and 4) completion rates. While college enrollment overall has decreased, Latino enrollment has increased significantly over the past 6 years. From 2010-2016, enrollment decreased 6% overall - led by a 16% decrease for White and 15% for Black students - but increased 25% for Latino and 2% for Asian/Pacific Islander students. Almost 1 in 5 undergraduate students today are Latino. Latino students have increased representation from 14 to 19%. Latinos’ degree attainment has grown significantly while overall degree attainment has increased more slowly over the past 6 years. Associate degree attainment grew 7% overall. The largest growth was by Latinos (55%), but degree attainment decreased most for White (-6%) and American Indian/Native American students (-7%). Baccalaureate degree attainment grew 12% overall. The largest growth was by Latinos (52%), while White students had a slight increase of 1% and American Indian/Native American students decreased significantly (-18%). Graduation rates increased equally for White and Latino students over 10 years; therefore, the gap in educational attainment remained the same. From 2005 to 2014, graduation rates - degree completion of 1st time, full-time students within 150% of time from enrollment - improved 2% for both White and Latino students. In 2015, 54% of Latino students were enrolled full-time. Latino students' completion rates are higher than graduation rates and include more students, but still need to increase in order to close the gap in completion rates with others overall. Latino students' completion rate - including part-time, transfer, stop out, and students from both 2- and 4-year institutions - was 47% compared to 63% for White and Asian students. Latino students are more likely to still be enrolled 6 years after enrollment than other groups. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Meridith Randall is President of Golden West College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Golden West College Meridith Randall President Institution website: https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/index.html Bio Page: https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/news/2024/01/trustees-selects-new-gwc-president.html Meridith Randall is President of Golden West College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Heather Wilson is President of The University of Texas at El Paso and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page The University of Texas at El Paso Heather Wilson President Institution website: https://www.utep.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.utep.edu/about/presidents-bio.html Heather Wilson is President of The University of Texas at El Paso and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a nationally recognized public research institution, is uniquely located where Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico converge that serves more than 24,000 students with 84% identifying as Hispanic.

Robert Garza is President of Palo Alto College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Palo Alto College Robert Garza President Institution website: https://www.alamo.edu/pac/ Bio Page: https://www.alamo.edu/pac/about-pac/leadership/office-of-the-president/ Robert Garza is President of Palo Alto College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

The purpose of this brief is to describe federal legislation and programs that support higher education, and to assess Latino participation in these programs. < Back Federal Policy and Latinos in Higher Education: A Guide for Policymakers and Grantmakers Deborah A. Santiago ; Sarita E. Brown February 2004 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Brief describes federal legislation and programs that support higher education and to assess Latino participation in these programs. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Rosemary Costigan is President of Community College of Rhode Island and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Community College of Rhode Island Rosemary Costigan President Institution website: https://www.ccri.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.ccri.edu/president/bio.html Rosemary Costigan is President of Community College of Rhode Island and part of Excelencia in Action network.

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< Back to News Page More Latino Students Apply for Financial Aid to Access College, Yet They Receive the Lowest Average Awards Mar 27, 2025 Contact: Media@EdExcelencia.org DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE Excelencia in Education Brief Highlights How Latinos Pay for College and Trendsetting Institutions Making Degrees More Affordable WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 27, 2025) – Excelencia in Education, the premier authority on accelerating Latino student success , while increasing all student success in higher education, released today a brief detailing how Latinos use financial aid to pay for college and ways that institutions intentionally serving them ensure a degree is affordable. The brief shows Latinos are more likely to apply for and receive financial aid than other groups, yet they receive the lowest average amount of aid. It then identifies concrete examples of how institutions financially support Latino, and all, students, including institutional aid, paid internships/on-campus employment, and robust advising services. The brief, “ How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends , ” comes in the wake of executive actions that are impacting higher education broadly, including financial aid. It reveals that 85% of Latino students applied for and 71% received financial aid, according to the most recent data from the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) in 2019-20. This represents the largest proportion of financial aid participation among any group except for African American students. Latinos are also more than twice as likely to receive grants (67%) than loans (27%) to pay for college. Despite demonstrating high financial need, Latinos received the lowest average amount of aid — just over $11,000, compared to almost $13,000 for all students. This is explained in part by Latinos’ pragmatic choices to access college despite a complicated financial aid system. Latino students who attended less costly community colleges (40%), worked 30+ hours per week (56%), enrolled exclusively part-time (28%), or chose to live off-campus and/or with their parents (89%) were less likely to receive federal financial aid, the most important source of aid for them to pay for college. “As the youngest, fastest-growing population in the U.S., Latinos’ increasing representation in colleges and universities provides unique opportunities for social mobility and economic growth,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia . “Financial aid is critical to supporting Latino, and all, students’ access to higher education. Our brief makes this clear and informs what institutions and policymakers can do to make financial aid more effective for our students and ensure access to quality, affordable education.” In addition to detailing how Latinos finance their education, the brief identifies six practices increasing access and financially supporting Latino, and all, students at trendsetting colleges and universities that have earned the Seal of Excelencia — a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve Latinos: Align institutional aid to provide funds to mitigate students’ unexpected financial challenges. Offer paid internships or on-campus employment opportunities so that Latino students can offset the cost of their degree while simultaneously gaining transferable skills. Provide support services to help students make informed decisions about their college costs. Contain student costs by offering OER (Open Educational Resources) for courses. Advance full tuition scholarships to students with family incomes at or below a specific financial level. Facilitate and simplify access to aid by managing joint admissions and financial aid applications between two-year and four-year college partners. Findings from the brief inform Excelencia’s policy recommendations for college affordability. At the federal level, recommendations include making basic needs a part of financial aid calculations and prioritizing Pell Grants. At the state level, recommendations include investing in guaranteed tuition plans by family income and mandating FAFSA completion. “How Latinos Pay for College: 2025 National Trends” was made possible with support from Lumina Foundation. Access the full brief: EdExcelencia.org/research/publications/how-latinos-pay-for-college-2025-national-trends About Excelencia in Education Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers transforming higher education to tap the talents of the Latino community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia ensures access to excellence by promoting student achievement, informing educational policies, and advancing evidence-based practices to more intentionally serve Latino, and all, students. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org

David A. Tandberg is President of Adams State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Adams State University David A. Tandberg President Institution website: https://www.adams.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.adams.edu/president/ David A. Tandberg is President of Adams State University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Philomena V. Mantella is President of Grand Valley State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Grand Valley State University Philomena V. Mantella President Institution website: https://www.gvsu.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.gvsu.edu/president/ Philomena V. Mantella is President of Grand Valley State University and part of Excelencia in Action network. Seal of Excelencia Intentionally Thriving Institution: 2025-2028 Grand Valley State University (GVSU), a public liberal arts university in West Michigan, serves over 19,000 undergraduates, with less than 10% identifying as Latino.