This is year 19 for Examples of Excelencia, an annual recognition given by Excelencia in Education. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Deborah A. Santiago and Sarita E. Brown, Excelencia in Education has the stated mission to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.
“The intent is to bring attention to evidence-based practices that are making a positive difference for Hispanic students,” says Santiago, chief executive officer of Excelencia in Education. “This is a population where there is still a great deal of ignorance about what it takes to serve this population well. So much of the conversation is often on what is not being done to better serve them.
“There is lots of good work across the country that understands the strengths and the opportunities of Hispanic students,” she adds.
These four Examples were selected from 103 program submissions from 20 states representing institutions of higher education and community-based organizations. The 18 finalists announced in August all serve Latino students across the country with culturally relevant, asset-based programming. A selection committee of experts and people in the field decided on the final four.
Five crucial things that these four are doing: increasing affordability, addressing academic barriers, creating a sense of belonging, experiential learning and wraparound services.
Associate Level
English for Academic Purposes
Reading Area Community College (Reading, PA)
The English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at Reading Area Community College (RACC) began in 2012 to strategically reduce credit requirements and accelerate student progression with the goal of boosting enrollment and success rates. It has done that with an 86% success rate for the 2022-23 academic year. Also, that year the program’s retention rate of Latino students was 18% higher than the college’s general retention rate. The focus on English skills needed in an academic setting and tailored support services through the Academic Literacy & Language (ALL) Center have proven beneficial.
Assistant professor and program coordinator Eleisha Moreno, who has worked with EAP since 2016, says this recognition from Excelencia in Education is validating. “We’re doing what works for Latino students in our community, and it gives us the opportunity to show the community this is where you can come, learn and be successful,” says Moreno.
“Here is a community college that sees the asset and opportunity of Latino students who might have language challenges but are academically ready and wanting to get a college education,” says Santiago. “This kind of focus on students shows they’re committed, they want to learn, and they just need that opportunity. They are staying in the program and they’re doing well.”
