Miami, August 23, 2022 – Miami Dade College (MDC) has been named a finalist for the 2022 Examples of Excelencia distinction for its Connect4Success (C4S) program, a collaboration with Florida International University (FIU) to establish a guided transfer pathway that facilitates the admission of MDC graduates with an associate in arts degree to FIU baccalaureate programs. Last year, MDC was awarded the prestigious Seal of Excelencia.
C4S was created in 2006 as a dual degree program with approximately 70 percent of MDC Associates of Arts graduates transferring to FIU with the goal of completing a baccalaureate program. The program offers wraparound services beginning with comprehensive onboarding. Students are assigned an advisor who guides them from application through enrollment. Advisors serve as the liaisons to key holistic support services such as Learning Resources, Student Life, Single Stop, and Mental Health Counseling. Students benefit from appreciative advising, extensive co-curricular opportunities, and career and transfer workshops.
For 17 years, Excelencia in Education has identified, aggregated, and promoted evidence-based practices building environments where Latino students can thrive. By demonstrating success in intentionally serving Latino students these programs, Examples of Excelencia finalists, are foundations for positive change at their institutions.
“Excelencia is answering the national call to identify and invest in evidence-based practices that improve college completion,” said Deborah Santiago, Co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education. “These 20 programs are evidence-based exemplars led by practitioners working directly with students and community that go beyond enrollment to intentionally serve students on their journey to degree completion.”
This year, Excelencia received 93 program submissions representing 17 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The 20 finalists will be featured online as well as in Excelencia’s Growing What Works Database – the only national online, searchable database for institutional leaders, funders, and policymakers interested in identifying what works for Latino students. Winners will be announced on Thursday, Sept. 29 in Washington D.C.
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. It has published more than 100 analyses, highlighted over 385 programs from across the country to advance effective, evidence-based practices, and distributed over $2 million to promote programs producing results for Latino students. 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: www.EdExcelencia.org.