Wilbur Wright College Earns Seal of Excelencia Recertification for Going Beyond Enrollment to Intentionally Serve Latine, and All Students

Excelencia in Education Recertifies Wilbur Wright College as a Trendsetter Detailing Efforts to Become a Learning Environment Where Latine Students Thrive  

Chicago, IL (October 1, 2024) – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, announced today Wilbur Wright College has earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia recertification. The Seal is a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latine students.  

“This recognition reaffirms that our efforts to support Latine student success are making an impact—and we are only getting started. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the dedication of our faculty and staff, who work tirelessly to ensure our students succeed,” said Wright College President Dr. Andrés A. Oroz. 

Wilbur Wright College is one of only 17 colleges and universities to earn the Seal of Excelencia in 2024. In 2018, Excelencia introduced the Seal to certify trendsetting colleges and universities for their efforts to become learning environments where Latino, and all, students thrive. This year marks the organization’s 20th year of service to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. 

The Seal of Excelencia framework represents a rigorous assessment of certified institutions’ intentionality and impact in improving outcomes such as retention, financial support, and degree completion for Latino students by aligning efforts across data, practice, and leadership. Ultimately, this process strengthens efforts to serve all students. Seal certification remains valid for three years, after which institutions have the opportunity to recertify progress. 

Higher education, business, philanthropy, and government leaders in Excelencia’s community of common cause convened in Washington, D.C., to recognize Wright College as one of nine institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia recertification, as well as eight other institutions that earned Seal certification for the first time. The announcement was part of the organization’s National Policy Forum, focused on innovating policies to accelerate Latinos’ degree attainment and strengthen our country’s civic leadership and workforce. The 17 Seal-certified institutions exemplify the kinds of programs and practices that inform good policy. 

“The colleges and universities that earn the Seal of Excelencia lead the charge in meeting our nation’s degree attainment goals,” said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia of Education. “They demonstrate commitment to Latino student success through impact and ongoing self-assessment.” 

This year’s cohort of newly certified and recertified institutions belongs to a collective of 46 colleges and universities that have earned the Seal. Together, they represent less than 1% of all institutions but enroll 17% and graduate 19% of all Latino students nationwide.  

The eight newly certified Seal of Excelencia institutions are:  

• California State University, East Bay (CA) 
• California State University, San Bernardino (CA) 
• California State University San Marcos (CA) 
• Cerritos College (CA) 
• Hartnell College (CA) 
• Pima Community College (AZ) 
• San Francisco State University (CA) 
• Sul Ross State University (TX) 

The other eight recertified Seal of Excelencia institutions are: 

• California State University, Fresno (CA) 

• California State University, Fullerton (CA) 

• Miami Dade College (FL) 

• San Diego State University (CA)  

• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley  

• University of California, Merced (CA) 

• University of California, Riverside (CA) 
• University of Central Florida (FL)

“Students and families as well as leaders in philanthropy, business, and government look to colleges and universities that earned the Seal of Excelencia when making their institutional choices,” said Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education. “Excelencia is proud to partner with institutions ensuring America’s bright future by advancing the talents of the Latino community.” 

Learn more about the institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia certification and recertification this year: EdExcelencia.org/seal/seal-excelencia-certified-institutions  

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