SJSU Earns Seal of Excelencia by Taking Responsibility for Students’ Educational and Economic Success

Excelencia in Education, a national leader in catalyzing transformation for student success in higher education, announced that San José State has earned the Seal of Excelencia. SJSU is one of 18 colleges and universities to earn the Seal in 2025, joining a group of nearly 50 institutions with a significant percentage of Latino students that are taking responsibility for improving student success.

"We are very proud of this important recognition. Serving students with intention is at the heart of our work at SJSU," said President Cynthia Teniente-Matson. "It is how we achieve success for all. This recognition is acknowledgment that our institutional excellence is resulting in measurable student success. We are grateful for the commitment of all who have contributed to earning the Seal."

The Seal is an honorific recognition that does not include funding or any specific program or practice. It is a rigorous, data-driven certification. Institutions earn the Seal by going beyond enrollment to intentionally meet student needs, and take responsibility and accountability for providing access to excellence. The Seal framework aligns data, practice and leadership to move institutions beyond isolated programs toward systemic change and investment that provides institutional value to students, their families and their communities.

These outcomes are not by chance. They are the result of deliberate structures built to support timely graduation and guided by the California State University (CSU) system's Graduation Initiative 2025. At SJSU, these efforts include our Spartan Student Success and Equity Innovation initiative, ongoing refinements through our strategic planning work with AASCU, and partnerships with community and industry leaders that create real opportunities for students.

"Seal of Excelencia certified institutions are investing in transformation, ensuring access to excellence," said Deborah Santiago, co-founder and CEO of Excelencia in Education. "These institutions have made demonstrable efforts to ensure students' return on investment in a degree while cultivating talent that fuels our country's future."

Higher education, business, philanthropy and government leaders in Excelencia's community of common cause convened in Washington, D.C., to recognize SJSU as one of five institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia for the first time.

President Teniente-Matson has joined Excelencia's national Excelencia in Action (E-Action) network. The network includes over 200 higher education leaders committed to advancing student success on their campuses. Institutions affiliated with the E-Action network are eligible to apply for the Seal.

Learn more about institutions that earned the Seal of Excelencia certification, recertification and Intentionally Thriving Institution designation this year: EdExcelencia.org/seal/seal-excelencia-certified-institutions