Pima Community College Earns Seal of Excelencia

Excelenciain Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, announced that Pima Community 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 Latino students. 

PCC 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.

“”On behalf of Pima Community College, I am pleased and honored that the College has earned the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education,” said PCC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Nasse. “This honor reflects our deep commitment to equity, familia, and servingness—the three pillars that accelerate Latino student success and are central to our collective mission. It also exemplifies PCC’s connection to Tucson’s vibrant Mexican-American heritage, from its traditions to its strong family ties, which shape our values and help build a future where every student has the opportunity to thrive.”

Higher education, business, philanthropy, and government leaders  in Excelencia’s community of common cause convened in Washington, D.C., to recognize Pima Community College 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 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 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 Pima Community College earned the Seal of Excelencia, Dr. Nasse 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 Latino, 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 Latino community.”

Pictured above from left – from left to right: Vanessa Arellano, Director of Provost's Office Initiatives & Assistant to the Provost, Dolores Duran-Cerda, Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Jeffrey P. Nasse, Chancellor, Marla Franco, Vice President, HSI Initiatives, University of Arizona.