University of Arizona Earns Seal for Supporting Latino Students
The University of Arizona has been awarded the prestigious Intentionally Thriving Institution designation from the Seal of Excelencia, as announced by Excelencia in Education. This recognition places the university among a select group of institutions that significantly enhance student outcomes for Latino students, despite comprising less than 1% of all colleges and universities in the United States. These institutions enroll 16% of Latino students nationwide and graduate 18% of them, as well as enrolling 7% of all students and graduating 8%.
Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education, emphasized the importance of this certification: “The seal is a rigorous, data-driven certification, not an award or ranking. The University of Arizona earned the seal by going beyond enrollment to intentionally support Latino, and all students in their pursuit of success.”
Recognizing Commitment to Hispanic Student Success
The University of Arizona became a Hispanic-Serving Institution, as designated by the U.S. Department of Education, in 2018. This recognition reflects its dedication to enrolling Hispanic students and providing robust educational opportunities. Currently, the university boasts an enrollment of 14,140 students who identify as Hispanic or Latino, making up over a quarter of its total student body.
Having received the inaugural Seal of Excelencia in 2019 and recertified in 2022, the university’s latest designation as an “Intentionally Thriving Institution” is shared with only seven other universities. “This recertification for our Seal of Excelencia and Intentionally Thriving Institution designation honors and celebrates the outcomes of our commitment to student success,” said Marla Franco, special advisor for Hispanic-Serving Institution initiatives at the university.
The Seal of Excelencia specifically recognizes the university’s efforts in enrolling, retaining, and financially supporting students, as well as connecting them with workforce opportunities. The university’s initiatives have led to a steady increase in the six-year graduation rate for Hispanic or Latino students, which rose from 59.8% in 2021 to 65.8% in 2025. Additionally, the three-year retention rate for these students improved from 63.3% to 71.5% over the past seven years.
Programs Supporting Hispanic Student Progress
The University of Arizona provides a range of programs aimed at enhancing the experience of Hispanic students. Its Enrollment Management team organizes an annual Arizona Experience for prospective students and offers campus tours in Spanish. Programs such as Upward Bound and Project Outreach FAMILIA ensure that students are academically prepared for college through partnerships with local high schools.
Another initiative, CIELO, enables students to participate in short-term cultural trips both domestically and internationally. Previous trips have included visits to Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and tribal communities in Northern Arizona. Financial aid options, including the U of A Hispanic Alumni Club’s First-Year Tuition Scholarship, offer up to $4,000 per academic year, contributing to a retention rate of 95% among scholarship recipients.
The university also addresses the needs of Hispanic and Latino students through its Student Success and Retention Innovation team, which develops strategies to tackle financial barriers that may impede students from continuing their education. The U of A Thrive Center’s First-Year Peer Mentoring program fosters a supportive community, helping students thrive during their academic journey.
To assist students post-graduation, the university’s Student Engagement and Career Development team offers programs that connect students with internships and career preparation. Survey data indicates that 87% of students utilizing these programs find added value in their degree.
Additionally, the university hosts an annual Bilingual Initiatives Symposium, gathering experts to discuss bilingualism in education and promoting multicultural understanding. The Arizona Hispanic-Serving Institutions (AZ HSI) Consortium, which includes leaders from various Hispanic-Serving Institutions in Arizona, aims to strengthen collective efforts to support Hispanic student success.
Aimée Chavez, a doctoral student at the University of Arizona, highlighted the importance of these programs, stating, “Working with HSI Initiatives definitely influenced my decision to go to graduate school. I was very fortunate to be surrounded by amazing, powerful women who were supportive during my application process and who continue to serve as mentors I look up to today.” This experience has underscored the concept of “servingness,” focusing on the needs of students and how institutions can effectively address them to facilitate their educational journeys.
The University of Arizona’s commitment to supporting Hispanic and Latino students demonstrates its dedication to fostering an inclusive and empowering educational environment.
