Effort amplifies the campus’s commitment to accelerating Latino and Hispanic student success
Indiana University Northwest recently completed Excelencia in Education’s Seal Serving Institutional Transformation Assessment (SSITA), a lengthy self-assessment tool to best glean — through a Latino lens — who the campus is serving, not serving and wants to serve.
The assessment was guided by Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority in efforts to accelerate Latino/Hispanic student success in higher education. In partnership with institutions across the nation, Excelencia in Education is committed to significantly increasing the number of Latino/Hispanic students attaining college degrees by 2030.
“As the most diverse of all IU campuses, and with a Latino/Hispanic student body exceeding 27 percent, it was imperative that IU Northwest complete this assessment to ensure the campus is intentional in their support, resources, opportunities and programming that serve our student population,” said Amy Diaz, IU Northwest Chief of Staff to the Office of the Chancellor and SSITA project lead.
As part of the SSITA assessment, institutions like IU Northwest were asked to identify data, practices and leadership efforts that can inform a more student-centered approach, while also initiating institutional planning and action.
Next steps: continued commitment
With the completion of the SSITA, IU Northwest is now positioned to apply for Excelencia in Education’s Seal of Excelencia, a national certification for higher education institutions that strive to go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve Latino/Hispanic students.
“For IU Northwest to earn the Seal of Excelencia would align the campus with 39 trendsetting colleges and universities from across the country, who, like our campus, are demonstrating their commitment and unwavering support to serving Latino/Hispanic students, while serving all,” Diaz said.
In 2020, IU Northwest was designated as an Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and continues to be the only public comprehensive higher education institution in Indiana to hold the designation.
Thanks to its HSI designation, IU Northwest has the unique advantage of unlocking funding opportunities that benefit the campus and improve the resources for all students.
“In the last three years, IU Northwest has been fortunate to have received $8 million in federal grants; funding that has led us to bold projects, like the creation of a STEM Resource Center, increased collaboration with Ivy Tech Community College, additional undergraduate research opportunities and so much more,” said Ken Iwama, IU Northwest Chancellor.
“This funding, and opportunities like the SSITA, further our goal of building a campus that is committed to meeting the academic and professional needs of all students, especially Latino/Hispanic students, and students in need of financial support to attend college. And as a regional IU campus, that is precisely our role.”
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.
