President Rodríguez Joins Excelencia in Education’s Presidents for Latino Student Success Network
By Bethany Bump
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 6, 2023) – University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez has joined the Presidents for Latino Student Success network, a consortium of higher education leaders convened by Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latina and Latino student success.
The network is composed of college and university presidents and chancellors who commit to making their institutions learning environments where Latina and Latino students thrive. In September, UAlbany was named the first R1 institution in the Northeast and the first SUNY campus to receive the rigorous Seal of Excelencia for its data-driven approach to ensuring Latina and Latino students are supported and thriving.
“As presidents, it’s our duty to ensure all students have a chance to succeed — especially those historically underrepresented on college campuses,” President Rodríguez said. "This network gives important visibility to this urgent issue and grants UAlbany the platform to share its best practices and learn from peers who are equally committed to identifying and removing barriers to educational equity.”
As of Fall 2022, at least 40 percent of UAlbany undergraduates identified as Black or Latina/Latino, with 18.5 percent identifying as Latina/Latino — the highest in University history.
Rodríguez attended a special reception in New York City Tuesday evening to celebrate and discuss Latina and Latino student success. UAlbany and Mercy College were showcased at the event for being the first university and college in New York to earn the prestigious Seal of Excelencia.
Networking on Policy
On Wednesday morning, Rodríguez convened with leadership teams from across the network for a policy forum that covered key issues for Latina and Latino student success in higher education, including workforce development, affordability, leadership and the future of higher education.
The institutions in the network represent 4 percent of America’s colleges and universities yet, in 2022, enrolled 31 percent and graduated 33 percent of all Latina and Latino students in the United States.
Excelencia and the leadership network actively collaborate to put evidence-based practices and strategic analysis of student data to use supporting and advancing the talents, skills, and contributions of Latina and Latino students and their institutions.
“Higher education leaders with skills and vision are fundamental to our country’s strong recovery,” said Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia. “Those prepared to engage and intentionally serve Latino students, while serving all their students, will lead the way.”
Through the network, President Rodríguez will collaborate with Excelencia to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts at the national level.
Excelencia in Education will incorporate input from Wednesday’s policy forum with input from other regions of the country. Perspectives of the presidents and chancellors in the network will inform Excelencia as it continues to advance Latino student success and will help shape the agenda for a National Policy Forum to be held in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with its annual Fall Convening on Sept. 28-29, 2023.
To learn more, visit the Presidents for Latino Student Success network website.