FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Reading PA, September 30, 2024 – Excelencia in Education announced that Reading Area Community College (RACC)’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Program has been selected as one of the 2024 Examples of Excelencia. This program joins three others from across the country that represent what is possible when higher education institutions and organizations intentionally serve Latino students on their journey to and through college. Programs recognized by Excelencia in Education implement culturally relevant, evidence-based practices that strengthen the skills and needs of their students and surrounding communities. 

Since 2012, the RACC EAP Program has extended two branches of support: a standardized curricular program and comprehensive tutoring in the Academic Literacy and Learning (ALL) Center. EAP enrolls approximately 200 students per year from up to 50 language backgrounds. The ALL Center, a technology-equipped study and tutoring space, is open 33 hours per week in fall and spring terms, with an average of 1,302 student visits each academic year since 2020. EAP has also evolved to offer paid professional development to faculty/staff and host recruiting visits from high schools. In both curricula and tutoring, the faculty/staff address the needs of multilingual learners of English by developing familial relationships, offering individualized instruction and coaching, providing safe spaces to use English, practicing academic empathy, and considering how students’ cultural values influence their learning.

“I am so proud of the work that Associate Professors Crystal Schilthuis and Eleisha Moreno have done to improve the outcomes for our students. Their work in developing the EAP Program has dismantled barriers for multilingual learners at RACC and has empowered our linguistically diverse students to succeed in college courses while building their confidence and sense of belonging,” says RACC President Dr. Susan Looney.

Each year, four Examples of Excelencia are selected from the associate, baccalaureate, graduate, and community-based organization levels for their intentionality and evidence of effectiveness in positively impacting Latino students. The 2024 Examples emerged from 345 nominations from 40 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, 103 program submissions, and 18 finalists.  

David Hessen
Director of Marketing and Communications
Reading Area Community College
610.607.6212
dhessen@racc.edu