Austin Community College Touted For Its Educational 'Excelencia'

AUSTIN, TX — Austin Community College is a national finalist — and the only community college in Texas — for the 2019 Examples of Excelencia recognition, officials announced on Wednesday.

The award, presented Excelencia in Education, honors programs dedicated to accelerating Latino student success in higher education. This year, Excelencia received 166 program nominations from 32 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

“It is an honor to be nationally recognized for the commitment ACC has to closing the equity gap and providing targeted support to our underserved students,” Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO, said in a prepared statement. “The strides we are making for Latino student success will benefit the community and workforce as a whole.”

The Hispanic student population at ACC is the fastest-growing demographic at the college, college officials noted. In fall 2019, ACC enrolled approximately 15,700 Hispanic students — an increase of 27 percent over the last five years, officials added.

The college’s Guided Pathways Advising Through Coaching program is recognized in the Associate category. Other finalists in the Associate category include:

• Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) at UCLA.
• Ichabod Success Institute at Washburn University.
• Promises & Pathways: Scaling Developmental Education Reform at Cuyamaca College.

ACC said the Guided Pathways was launched in 2016. The program redesigns and re-aligns programs, support services, and instructional approaches to help students clarify goals, choose and enter pathways to achieve their goals, and master knowledge and skills needed to advance in the workforce or further their education. Since launching guided pathways, officials noted, the term-to-term retention rate for Hispanic students increased by 16 percent.

“Our guiding theory of action is to increase Latino student success in higher education to prepare and enhance America’s future workforce, civic leadership, and contribute to our economy," Deborah Santiago, Excelencia in Education CEO, said in a prepared statement. "To do so, we are informing decision-makers, working with institutions and organizations to provide assistance and compel action, and creating a community of action-oriented advocates.”

The 2019 Examples of Excelencia recipients will be revealed Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Celebración de Excelencia in Washington, DC. Winners are chosen by a national selection committee comprised of higher education leaders, grantmakers, professionals, and stakeholders.

In June, ACC was presented the Seal of Excelencia for its dedication to Latino students by Excelencia in Education.

About ACC

Austin Community College is a nationally recognized two-year college serving Central Texas. ACC is focused on student success and providing affordable, flexible pathways to help students reach their education goals, learn new job skills, or advance their career. The college currently enrolls more than 70,000 students annually.

About Excelencia in Education

Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies, and advancing institutional practices while collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia has established a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. For more information, visit: https://www.edexcelencia.org.