[SALINAS, CA] (October 1, 2024) – Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latinx student success in higher education, announced today Hartnell College has earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia. The Seal is a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latinx students. In the academic year 2023-24, Hartnell College served 12,000 students, with 83% identifying as Latinx.  

Hartnell 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 Latinx, and all, students thrive. This year marks the organization’s 20th year of service to accelerate Latinx 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 Latinx 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. 

“An institution earns the Seal of Excelencia by using data, best practices, and leadership to demonstrate alignment that intentionally serves our Latinx community,” said Michael Gutierrez, Superintendent/President of Hartnell College. “We are honored to serve as exemplars and to represent one of a select few colleges that are transforming ways that engage, enroll, and graduate today’s increasingly Latinx students.” 

Leaders in higher education, business, philanthropy, and government, who are in Excelencia’s community of common cause convened in Washington, D.C., to recognize HC as one of eight institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia for the first time, as well as nine other institutions that earned recertification. The announcement was part of the organization’s National Policy Forum, focused on innovating policies to accelerate Latinxs’ 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 in Education. “They demonstrate commitment to Latinx 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 higher education institutions but enroll 17% and graduate 19% of all Latinx 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 nine 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) 

• Wilbur Wright College (IL) 

Before Hartnell College earned the Seal of Excelencia, Gutierrez made the decision to join Excelencia’s national network of Presidents for Latinx Student Success (P4LSS). The network comprises over 200 higher education leaders committed to making their institutions learning environments where Latinx, and all, students thrive. Institutions in the P4LSS network are eligible to apply for the Seal. To earn the Seal of Excelencia, they must demonstrate: 

• An intentional, institutional focus on advancing Latinx student success by aligning data and practice; 

• Deliberate and ongoing assessment to identify and implement strategies that improve Latinx student achievement; 

• Leadership commitment to continue transforming into an environment where Latinx students thrive; and, 

• A long-term and unwavering commitment to intentionally serve Latinx, and all students. 

“Through a rigorous application and interview process, Hartnell College departments and student programs collaboratively evidenced how each serve our student population through practice that is high-impact, culturally responsive, and scalable,” said Gayle Pitman, Vice President of Institutional Equity, Effectiveness, and Success at Hartnell College.  

According to the submitted application, programs and services highlighted include: 

• Bilingual services in both English and Spanish 

• Mi Casa program, for undocumented students 

• High School Equivalency Program (HEP) 

• Cohort-mentorship programs 

• Math Academy  

• Connecting students with internships and careers in STEM) 

• Creation of the Basic Needs Office 

• Dual Enrollment opportunities for high school students 

• Rising Scholars program for incarcerated students 

• Strategic placement of education centers in Castroville, East Salinas, King City and Soledad aimed to provide access to education in areas with low educational attainment and in low-income, predominantly Spanish-speaking communities.  

The impact of Hartnell College’s efforts is evident in the course success rates for Latinx students: 72.8% in 2018-2019, 69.6% during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021, and 74.1% in 2022-2023. 

“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 Latinx community.” 

Learn more about the institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia certification and recertification this year: Seal of Excelencia Certified Institutions.  

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About Hartnell College  

Focusing on the education and workforce development needs of communities in the Salinas Valley, Hartnell College strengthens communities by providing opportunities for students to reach career and academic goals (associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, certificates of achievement, transfer to four-year institutions) in an environment committed to student learning, achievement, and success. 

About Excelencia in Education 

Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia in Education leads a national network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to tap the talents of the Latinx community and address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. With this network, Excelencia accelerates Latinx student success in higher education by promoting Latinx student achievement, informing educational policies with a Latinx lens, and advancing evidence-based practices. In 2024, Excelencia marks 20 years of commitment to Latinx student success. For more information, visit: EdExcelencia.org 

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