Richard J. Helldobler is President of William Paterson University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page William Paterson University Richard J. Helldobler President Institution website: https://www.wpunj.edu/home/index.html Bio Page: https://www.wpunj.edu/president/biography.html Richard J. Helldobler is President of William Paterson University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

The report examines enrollment and graduation at 8 Texas institutions, highlights programs and strategies serving Latino students, and offers policy recommendations. < Back ALASS: Accelerating Latino Student Success at Texas Border Institutions: Possibilities and Challenges Deborah A. Santiago September 2008 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication Executive Summary SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview The report examines enrollment and graduation trends at eight Texas institutions, highlights promising programs and strategies for serving Latino students, and offers policy recommendations for improving success rates for the state's Latino students amongst all served. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Greg Peterson is President of Salt Lake Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Salt Lake Community College Greg Peterson President Institution website: https://www.slcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.slcc.edu/president/ Greg Peterson is President of Salt Lake Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Ellen M. Granberg is President of George Washington University and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page George Washington University Ellen M. Granberg President Institution website: https://www.gwu.edu/ Bio Page: https://president.gwu.edu/about-dr-granberg Ellen M. Granberg is President of George Washington University and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Our Agenda for Reform makes policy recommendations to the federal student aid and work-study programs to improve college access and support retention and completion. < Back The Reimagining Aid Design and Delivery (RADD) Consortium for the Reform of Federal Student Aid Grants and Work-Study Excelencia in Education; Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success at CLASP; College Board; Committee for Economic Development; National Urban League May 2015 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Over the last three decades, the cost of college has increased nearly four times faster than the median family income. Financial aid has not filled this growing gap, resulting in “unmet financial need.” These policy recommendations for redesigning the student aid system are designed to help all students afford and complete college. A five-member consortium comprised of Excelencia in Education, the Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success at CLASP, College Board, the Committee for Economic Development, and the National Urban League authored this brief, which was made possible through the support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Many of today’s college students fit a “post-traditional” student profile, in that they are independent, adults age 25 and older, parents, and work more than 20 hours per week. These students often face financial barriers to college access and completion as a result of their managing multiple roles and responsibilities. This brief uses guiding principles to recommend reforms to the federal student aid and work-study programs to increase post-traditional student success in higher education. These principles include: 1) increase economic opportunity for all students; 2) provide clear and transparent federal aid; 3) use evidence based practices to serve low-income, disadvantaged students; 4) ensure federal aid and a manageable amount of work and loans are adequate to complete postsecondary education for qualified students; 5) address all barriers to degree completion; and 6) hold institutions receiving federal funding accountable for keeping college affordable and strengthening student success. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Summary analysis and list of the top 25 institutions graduating Latino students in STEAM across science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics. < Back Finding Your Workforce: The Top 25 Institutions Graduating Latinos in STEAM Across all Degree Levels Ruyu (Iris) Yan; Lily Cuellarsola; Deborah A. Santiago March 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latino talent is vital to our workforce—particularly in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM), where innovation and creativity converge to drive economic growth. As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates changes across industries, the future of work will rely on an interdisciplinary workforce that pairs technical expertise with uniquely human capabilities like creativity and collaboration. Integrating the arts into STEM is essential for national competitiveness; however, Latinos remain significantly underrepresented in these high-wage, high-growth sectors. This companion piece summarizes the Top 25 institutions graduating Latino students in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) across all credential levels (certificate, associate, bachelor's, master’s, and doctorate) For the research publication and executive summary, visit: Finding Your Workforce: Linking College Completion with U.S. Workforce Needs in STEAM Finding Your Workforce STEAM Executive Summary Suggested Citation: Yan, R., Cuellarsola, L., & Santiago, D. (2026). Finding Your Workforce: The Top 25 Institutions Graduating Latinos in STEAM Across all Degree Levels. Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Javier Reyes is Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page University of Massachusetts-Amherst Javier Reyes Chancellor Institution website: https://www.umass.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.umass.edu/chancellor/about/meet-the-chancellor Javier Reyes is Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Pam Y. Eddinger is President of Bunker Hill Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network. < Back to E-Action Main Page Bunker Hill Community College Pam Y. Eddinger President Institution website: https://www.bhcc.edu/ Bio Page: https://www.bhcc.edu/about/officeofthepresident/ Pam Y. Eddinger is President of Bunker Hill Community College and part of Excelencia in Action network.

Through Examples of Excelencia, Excelencia in Education recognizes evidence-based programs increasing Latino, and all, student success and thus facilitating access to excellence. Growing What Works Learn What Works for Student Success Through Examples of Excelencia , Excelencia in Education recognizes evidence-based programs increasing Latino, and all, student success and thus facilitating access to excellence. These programs can inform and guide more intentional and student-centered efforts at institutions across the country. Explore Advancing What Works to Intentionally Serve Latino Students: Opportunities for Action - 2024, a compilation of 35 nationally recognized programs that take asset-based and student-centered approaches to intentionally SERVE Latinos and other post-traditional students across five key areas. LEARN MORE Are you looking for more examples of what works? Our team can provide you a curated list of programs, based on your interests, that are making an impact on Latino, and all, student success in higher education. Contact us by email or complete this short form to connect with us.

The purpose of this issue brief is to provide a common definition and methodology for identifying HSIs that will result in more consistent and verifiable analysis. < Back Essay: Creating a List of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) Excelencia in Education April 2026 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Excelencia in Education has been tracking the growth of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (eHSIs), and Hispanic-Serving Institutions with Graduate Programs (gHSIs) for over 20 years and has released its analyses on these institutions annually. The purpose of this essay is to provide a common definition and methodology for identifying HSIs that will result in better, more accurate analysis. In the current federal landscape, where no active eligibility framework or comprehensive HSI list exists, this approach offers a consistent and transparent way to identify these institutions. Using a common definition based on an established methodology will more accurately represent this group of institutions. As the Latino population continues to grow, so will the number of Latino college-bound students. The number and size of HSIs will also continue to grow and will play a critical role in enhancing Latino students' access to higher education throughout the United States. Excelencia’s methodology excludes institutions with fewer than 100 total undergraduate students enrolled. Their enrollment fluctuates enough year to year that HSI status can change based on a difference of one or two Latino students, which would produce inconsistent identification across years. For example, an institution enrolling 100 undergraduates needs 25 Latino students to meet the 25% threshold, meaning a single student's continued enrollment determines whether that institution appears on the list. The sustainability of these smaller institutions is limited, as their small enrollment signals a lack of viability and sufficient resources for operations long-term. Further, institutions of this size are unlikely to be competitive for Title V capacity-building funds relative to larger, more established institutions. Suggested Citation Excelencia in Education. (2026). Essay: Creating a List of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) . Washington, D.C.: Excelencia in Education. Learn more in Excelencia’s new HSI Factbook. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

The report provides recommendations on how high school counselors can grow visibility of higher education options for Latino student college access and success. < Back College Counseling for Latino and Underrepresented Students National Association for College Admission Counseling; Excelencia in Education April 2015 DOWNLOADS/LINKS Publication SHARE RESEARCH LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) Copy link Overview Latinos represent almost one quarter of students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade in public schools. Between 2011 and 2022, Latino postsecondary enrollment will increase by 27% – the largest rate of increase of all groups. This study, by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) in partnership with Excelencia in Education, examines the role of high school counselors in assisting Latino and other underrepresented students through their transition to college. Public high schools continue to emphasize the importance of planning for postsecondary education. For Latinos and other underrepresented groups, counselors can act as a catalyst in the development of postsecondary aspirations and the formation of “college knowledge.” Increasing knowledge on academic and financial aid options for students and their families help reduce barriers to regarding postsecondary education. One-on-one and culturally competent counseling positively affect Latinos enrolling in college after high school graduation. This study uses site visits to examine the challenges and successes of providing college readiness counseling to Latino, and all, students. NACAC’s counseling trends survey lends information to the effects of counseling on student enrollment in postsecondary education. The study also includes recommendations for improving college counseling, access, and success for Latino, and all, students. Return to Research Library Related Research by Issue Area - Education Pathways Financial Aid Institutional Practices Student Success Workforce

Excelencia in Education began as a Latina-led organization with Co-founders Sarita Brown and Deborah Santiago. In 2004, they launched Excelencia with the belief that it is both crucial and possible for the U.S. to accelerate Latino student success in higher education through an intentional, strategic effort. Our Story Excelencia’s History and Evolution Excelencia in Education began as a Latina-led organization with Co-founders Sarita Brown and Deborah Santiago. In 2004, they launched Excelencia with the belief that it is both crucial and possible for the U.S. to accelerate Latino student success while increasing all student success in higher education through an intentional, strategic effort. Since our founding, Excelencia has grown in size and influence, as well as leveraged our role as a national leader, trusted source of information, and advocate for evidence-based practices to support Latino students’ achievement amongst all served. We continue to create opportunities to examine critical issues in postsecondary education from new perspectives and reconsider traditional efforts in a post-traditional context to the benefit of all students. Our story is one of commitment, persistence, credibility, and collaborative action for positive results on behalf of Latino, and all, students to ensure America’s future. 20 Years of Serving Our Mission In 2024, Excelencia marked 20 years of service to our mission — accelerating Latino student success while increasing all student success, to close postsecondary attainment gaps and advance our families, communities, and nation. See how we have shaped the national agenda for student-centered institutional transformation over the last two decades. LEARN MORE Excelencia’s Tree of Life Created by national award-winning artist Verónica Castillo Salas, Excelencia’s Tree of Life symbolizes how the commitment of our co-founders seeded the growth of a national organization that cultivates Latino, and all, student success. EXPERIENCE OUR HISTORY