SDSU chosen for INSIGHT Into Diversity’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.
For the fourth consecutive year, San Diego State University has been awarded the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The HEED Award is the only national recognition honoring colleges and universities that exhibit outstanding efforts and success in the area of diversity and inclusion throughout their campuses.
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. SDSU will be featured along with 82 other recipients, in the magazine’s November 2016 issue.
“We are honored to once again be selected as a recipient of the HEED Diversity award,” said Aaron Bruce, SDSU’s chief diversity officer. “This recognition reflects the ongoing commitment to inclusion on our campus, where we take great efforts to ensure everyone in the SDSU community feels welcomed and supported.”
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected SDSU for its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives and for its ability to embrace a broad definition of diversity on campus, including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.
At SDSU, students from all backgrounds are achieving academic excellence. Steady improvement in graduation and retention rates spans all genders and ethnicities, including students from historically underrepresented groups.
“The university implemented its strategic plan in 2012 to advance student success, diversity and academic excellence,” said Chukuka S. Enwemeka, provost and senior vice president. “INSIGHT Into Diversity’s recognition affirms that the strategic plan is producing the desired results and advancing the university to the next level.”
The HEED Award is open to all colleges and universities throughout the United States. It measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.
“While we look at numbers and expect continued improvement for those schools that receive the HEED Award year after year, we also use a holistic approach in reviewing each application,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus.”
