Four higher education programs were recognized for their evidence-based efforts to promote success in the classroom and workplace for Latino college students.

The four programs were selected from a pool of 93 submissions and 20 finalists by Excelencia in Education, one of the nation’s leading educational think tanks focused on Latino college completion.

Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education, said: said in a statement to NBC News.

Here’s an example from Excelencia for 2022:

• Latino Promise and HACER Programs (Associate Level) at Fairleigh Dickinson College in Teaneck, NJ.
• Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (Bachelor’s Level) at the University of Puerto Rico in Cahiei, Puerto Rico.
• Master of Science (Graduate Level) in Environmental Science Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
• A higher education initiative (community-based organization) at Esperanza Inc. in Cleveland.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said Thursday at the Celebración de Excelencia event of Excelencia in Education at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. challenge. ”

Latino Promise and HACER (Hispanics Achifying College Education Recognition), sister programs of Fairleigh Dickinson University, have helped primarily first-generation college students complete their associate degree programs in a timely manner and transition to bachelor’s degree programs. was recognized in

The program recruited students from high immigrant school districts to address educational, economic and social barriers.

These programs offer students the same curriculum, but while Latino Promise offers instruction in English, HACER allows students to maintain and improve their Spanish and English through ESL (English as a Second Language) bilingual coursework. improve and eventually help them transition to English-only instruction.

Since 2010, Latino Promise has achieved a 40% graduation rate, more than double the average graduation rate (18%) for Latino associate degree programs at two-year colleges in New Jersey.

At the University of Puerto Rico in Cayey, the Interdisciplinary Research Institute was touted for its focus on teaching and undergraduate research.

The program supports students through a network of mentors, coaching programs, training, interdisciplinary courses, publication opportunities, and professional development.

Financial resources have helped support students during the coronavirus pandemic, including tuition and enrollment assistance.

Undergraduate research participants achieved a higher graduation rate (90%) than the institution’s graduation rate (50%) from 2015 to 2018. Of the program participants who applied to graduate school, 92% were accepted, more than double her percentage of students overall. Those who applied for graduate school at the same time.

The Master of Science in Environmental Sciences program at the University of Texas at San Antonio focuses on improving graduation rates and thesis completion, competitive job placement, and encouraging students to pursue leadership positions in the field. recognized by the established curriculum.

The graduate program has more than doubled the number of Latinx students enrolled in the past three years. Since 2017, Latino student retention has risen by 7%, and her 45% of Latino students have completed the thesis track.

This program helps students tackle imposter syndrome through mentoring and professional programs, among other resources.

Esperanza Inc. is a community-based organization dedicated to Latinx higher education in Greater Cleveland.

After finding success in high school programming, the organization expanded into post-secondary support in 2016. Students attend workshops, receive internship support, and apply for scholarships.

The program has a 90% retention rate among Latino students, which has remained stable during the pandemic, 31% higher than the national retention rate and 22% higher than the overall student retention rate. increase.

The 2022 example of Excelencia is the 17th annual award for a program that supports Latino university completion. Since 2005, Excelencia has received applications for over 1,900 of his programs. Previous finalists are available online in Excelencia’s searchable database.

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