SDSU Achieves Seal of Excelencia Recertification for Commitment to Serving Latinx and All Students

Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latinx student success in higher education, announced today that San Diego State University has earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia recertification. SDSU is one of only 17 colleges and universities to earn this honor in 2024.

The Seal is a national certification for institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment and more intentionally serve Latinx students. 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.

“Serving and empowering our Hispanic students  — and all student communities — in engaging, enrolling and graduating is an important part of SDSU’s commitment to student success and celebration of our diversity,” said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. “A great deal of work went into earning the Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and it has continued in the years since. We take great pride in advancing the talents of our Latinx students and are honored that Excelencia in Education has recognized those efforts by renewing our certification this year.”

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 progress.

Higher education, business, philanthropy, and government leaders in Excelencia’s community of common cause convened in Washington, D.C., to recognize SDSU 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, which focused on innovating policies to accelerate Latinx 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 Latinx students nationwide.

Before receiving the Seal of Excelencia the first time, de la Torre made the decision to join Excelencia’s national network of Presidents for Latino 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 Latino student success by aligning data and practice;

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

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

• A long-term and unwavering commitment to intentionally SERVE Latino, and all, students.

“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.”

Along with prioritizing the university’s ongoing commitment to supporting Latinx students in its strategic plan, SDSU – a Hispanic-Serving Institution – has also:

• Launched Caminos al Éxito. Funded by the Aztec Parents Fund, this program supports freshmen and transfer students pursuing STEM and healthcare careers.
• Created the SDSU Transborder Graduation Celebration: After the 2022 inaugural ceremony in Mexicali for SDSU Imperial Valley students, the event expanded to Tijuana for San Diego-based students.
• Received a Title V DHSI grant from the Department of Education to support the SDSU Imperial Valley campus.
• Set enrollment highs for Latinx students. In 2023 SDSU had one of its largest fall enrollments, with a record-high transfer class. Latinx transfer students made up 47% of the total.
• Experienced an increase of Latinx faculty from 11% in 2021 to 20% in 2024, with 13.6% in tenure-track positions and 20% among lecturers.
• Continues to see growth in Latinx students, representing 35.4% of SDSU’s total student population.
• Established cross-border partnerships, to include one with Universidad La Salle Oaxaca to enhance binational projects and international exchanges for students and faculty.
• Launched the SDSU Latinx Historical Campus Tour. The Adelante Tour at SDSU celebrates Latinx/Hispanic/Chicanx history and achievements for prospective and admitted students and their families.
• Initiated the En Confianza @SDSU support group to provide a safe, welcoming space for students who identify as Latina/e/o/x, Chicana/o/e/x, and/or Hispanic.

“Since earning the seal in 2021, Excelencia has set SDSU on a trajectory that has challenged us to serve our students with practices aligned with our goals and values,” said Emilio Ulloa, associate chief diversity officer for HSI and regional affairs. “They have pushed us to hold ourselves accountable for gathering and assessing evidence of the impact of these practices and encouraged us to set ambitious goals for the future. While the recognition is gratifying, it is the support, structure, and encouragement Excelencia provides in partnership with our institution for which I am most grateful.”