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For a fourth consecutive year, ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University has been recognized by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. 

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú again earned the magazine’s , one of 109 recipients of the accomplishment. The institutions will be spotlighted in the November/December 2023 edition of the magazine.

​​“We are honored to be recognized once again by INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine,” ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University President Gregory Crawford said. “ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our campuses. Receiving this award for the fourth consecutive year validates that our mission to elevate inclusive excellence and create belongingness throughout the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú community continues to advance.”

The HEED Award is given annually to colleges and universities that demonstrate outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Cristina Alcalde, vice president for the Office of Transformational and Inclusive Excellence (OTIE), was thrilled by the honor, calling it a reflection of ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s collective endeavor to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Students, faculty, and staff all play important roles in building a more inclusive ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú,” Alcalde said. “This award reflects the consistent, ongoing efforts across our community, across academic and nonacademic units.”

Alcalde praised programs and initiatives such as the Passport Program, Bridges, LSAMP, and MADE at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú for helping to welcome, support, and retain students. She noted the expansion of OTIE’s award-winning DEI in ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip Certificate to draw on more faculty and staff expertise.

In collaboration with the provost’s office, OTIE also launched a new Faculty Fellow program that recognizes and supports faculty professional development and leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“Our community has had so many opportunities to come together and learn from one another, through initiatives, programming, and events organized by different units and groups,” Alcalde said. Those events included the annual Across the Divide Conference, the Intercultural Student ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip Conference, UniDiversity, and robust heritage month programming.

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú’s LSAMP program earned an Inspiring ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in STEM Award in August from INSIGHT Into Diversity. It was the third consecutive year the program received this recognition.

Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity, said in a press release that the HEED Award process includes a comprehensive and rigorous application with questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees, as well as best practices for both.

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip support for diversity, campus culture and climate, and supplier diversity also are taken into account, as are many other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.

“We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” Pearlstein said. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”

Collaboration will continue to be a key part of OTIE’s future. The launch of a new program, the RedHawk Equity ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉúhip Series, helps build on existing strengths. ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, through OTIE,  also co-organized the collaborative conference, Reimagining the Academy, with Kent State and Ohio University Oct. 18-19 at the Kent Student Center in Kent, Ohio.

“We look forward to this and so much more as part of our journey for an inclusive ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú community,” Alcalde said.

“To receive this national recognition is an honor because it affirms our work and tells us that our intentional efforts are moving in the right direction, whether these are in programming, initiatives, or policies.”