Jersey City, N.J. – June 5, 2019 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that it was selected as a finalist to receive a Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit organization that seeks to accelerate Latino student success in higher education. Saint Peter’s is among 20 nationwide finalists that were selected following a rigorous application process. The institutions receiving the Seal of Excelencia will be formally recognized at an event in Washington D.C. on June 20.
“We are honored to be named a finalist for this prestigious recognition,” said Eugene Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “Our history, Jesuit tradition and location in one of the most diverse cities in the country are all factors that have contributed to our mission to offer an accessible education to a diverse community of learners. We are proud to be recognized for our success in working towards that mission and enabling Latino students thrive.”
Excelencia in Education identified finalists based on applications that demonstrated an alignment of data and practice in serving Latino students. The organization also considered the strategies and practices that institutions utilized to serve Latino students and whether there was evidence of effectiveness and intentionality in these efforts.
Reflective of its commitment to diversity, Saint Peter’s has been designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) for more than 20 years. The University is engaged in strategic efforts to boost Latino student success through transition assistance and support programs such as the Center for English Language Acquisition and Culture (CELAC).
The University also maintains a campus-wide focus on graduation and professional success. Saint Peter’s has aggressively sought and achieved federal grants to support Latino STEM success given the University’s location in New Jersey, where according to the National Science Foundation, the need for STEM workers ranks in the top quarter nationally In 2016 Saint Peter’s was awarded the Title III HSI STEM grant for $3.8 million to support SURGE (STEM Undergraduate Retention, Graduation, and Empowerment) that provides opportunities for research. In 2018 Saint Peter’s also received the NSF’s first ever Hispanic-serving grant for $1.5 million to build STEM internship experiences.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment. To learn more, please visit www.saintpeters.edu.
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