Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) has joined the Presidents for Latino Student Success and the Excelencia in Action network as part of its initiative to better serve its growing Latino student population.

LCCC President Ann D. Bieber’s membership in the Presidents for Latino Student Success allows the college to work with a national network of college and university presidents and chancellors.

“The college has always been a diverse institution, truly reflecting the richness of our community,” said Bieber.

“This affiliation ensures that not only will we learn how to better serve our Latino students, but also translate that into serving all students and working with them to achieve academic success,” Bieber said.

LCCC is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), with at least 25 percent of the student body identifying as Hispanic-Latino. The college has met that metric since the fall 2018. In the fall 2021 semester, the college’s enrollment includes 28 percent Latino students.

The college works to ensure it meets students’ needs and provides the resources they need to be successful, including financial and academic support, cultural experiences and building a sense of community and belonging.

The institutions in Excelencia’s network represent 4 percent of United States colleges and universities and enrolls 24 percent of Latino students.

Excelencia, established in 2005, is the only national data-driven initiative to recognize programs at the associate, baccalaureate and graduate levels, as well as community-based organizations, with evidence of effectiveness in accelerating Latino student success.