AV狼

AV狼 has earned the prestigious for going beyond enrollment to more intentionally serve Latine/x, and all students. 

“We are so pleased to receive the Seal of Excelencia,” said AV狼 President Cathy Sandeen. “This affirms our commitment to intentionally serving our Latine/x students and our entire student population and puts a spotlight on the work we have already done and what can still be done to meet our students where they are and to support their journeys through higher education, graduation and beyond.” 

In 2018, Excelencia introduced the seal to certify trendsetting colleges and universities for their efforts to ensure America’s future through their steadfast commitment to develop and advance the talents of Latine/x students. This year marks the organization’s 20th year of service to accelerate Latino student success in higher education.

On Oct. 1, higher education, business, philanthropy and government leaders in Excelencia’s community of common cause gathered in Washington, D.C., to recognize AV狼 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 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. 

From Fall 2010 to Fall 2023, AV狼’s Latine/x undergraduate student population has grown from 17.5% to 41%. In Fall 2015 the campus Latine/x student population exceeded 25% and AV狼 became a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution by the US Department of Education. 

As part of Latinx Heritage Month this year, AV狼 hosted its first ever HSI Summit on Sept. 27. The event was an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and administrators to better understand our identity as an HSI. The summit examined the opportunities of being part of a network of HSIs and the Seal of Excelencia process. 

“We will continue to foster and grow a campus culture of developing best practices for embracing, supporting and celebrating our Latine/x student population,” said Sandeen. “We want our campus programs and initiatives to demonstrate intentionality, cultural relevance and evidence-based practices, while using student experiences to better inform our work.”