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Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Hispanic and Latino student success in higher education, recently announced that Miami Dade College (MDC) 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 Hispanic students. MDC first received the Seal in 2021, and its recertification this year is especially fitting as it coincides with Hispanic Heritage Month, underscoring the college’s ongoing dedication to empowering students and celebrating their cultural contributions.
“It is an honor to be recognized once again as a top institution for advancing student success and completion and expanding career pathways, especially among Hispanics, our largest student population,” said MDC president Madeline Pumariega. “We are proud to be part of the Excelencia community and join other distinguished colleges and universities leading the way to expand opportunities for Hispanic students.”
MDC 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, DC, to recognize MDC 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 percent of all institutions but enroll 17 percent and graduate 19 percent of all Latino students nationwide.
Prior to MDC earning the Seal the first time, President Pumariega first joined 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 Latino, and all, students thrive.
“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 at EdExcelencia.org/seal/seal-excelencia-certified-institutions.
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