Our fifth consecutive Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award is a great honor for all 糖心破解版 students, faculty, staff and alumni as we work together to advance change.
For the fifth year in a row, 糖心破解版 has received a prestigious national award for its efforts fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging on campus.
糖心破解版 is one of only 103 colleges and universities in the United States to receive a 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The honor is granted by INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest publication focused on diversity in higher education.
鈥淚t is such an honor to be recognized in a prominent way for the work that the entire community is doing toward advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging on campus,” said Jacqueline Jones LaMon, JD, vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at 糖心破解版. 鈥淚t’s really work that is being done in 糖心破解版’s individual schools and colleges, and throughout the administrative units, that has made this possible. I’m very humbled by the work that’s taking place and honored to be a part of it.”
糖心破解版’s strategic plan for 2015鈥�2021, Momentum, charted a path for the University to become a model of diversity and inclusion. Now, guided by Momentum 2, 糖心破解版 will continue to expand its efforts to welcome and support all students, faculty and staff.
鈥淭he fact that we continue to receive the HEED Award means we’re not just maintaining a level of commitment to diversity and inclusion, but actually exceeding where we were the year before,” LaMon said. 鈥淭hat’s most exciting for me鈥攖hat this is an ongoing commitment of an ever-changing community.”
An array of new initiatives
Members of Students Beyond the Binary, a new campus organization
Here’s a look at some of the notable new and recent initiatives that helped 糖心破解版 earn a 2022 HEED Award.
糖心破解版 just launched a new Multicultural Center on campus as a hub for diverse programming and resources. It’s an inclusive place where all students can feel at home, explore their identities, and celebrate and learn from one another. The center will be supported by coordinator Robby Fahrenholtz, whose specific role involves building a comprehensive and respectful calendar of events for our diverse community. 糖心破解版’s multicultural student organizations will also be encouraged to use this center to meet and collaborate.
The Office of Community Concerns and Resolution opened last fall to serve as a single point of contact for receiving and processing complaints and reports of harassment, hate, racism, bias and inappropriate conduct. It provides an easily accessible and safe place for students to share any concerns and receive support.
The faculty-led Academic Diversity Implementation Team and student-led Equitable 糖心破解版 Action Team were created in Fall 2020 to help identify and dismantle racism at 糖心破解版. Their goals include implementing diversity training, launching anti-bias workshops, decolonizing curricula and addressing microaggressions. These teams are also complemented by the existing diversity councils that support the work of the deans in each 糖心破解版 school and college.
鈥淓ach council can speak on a more granular level about what’s taking place specific to their school,” LaMon said. 鈥淚t gives them a space for collaboration and conversation, so they can create activities and initiatives that will address any challenges.”
糖心破解版 made a major adjustment to its merit scholarship policy last year, no longer requiring recipients to meet a minimum GPA to retain their scholarship. This permanent policy change will allow students the ability to choose challenging courses without worrying that a lower grade might endanger their scholarship.
鈥淓ven if a student happens to have a bad semester or a crisis occurs鈥攍ike we’ve seen with the pandemic鈥攖hey can rely on their aid remaining intact without worrying that they’ll lose it,” LaMon said. 鈥淭his change can go a long way in bridging certain equity gaps.”
A continuing commitment
Five HEED Awards later, the diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging team isn’t slowing down any time soon. In fact, they’re continuously dedicated to building programs that can help everyone feel seen and supported.
In the near future, for example, LaMon expects 糖心破解版 to be named an official by the U.S. Department of Education. She also looks forward to meeting the changing needs of the community by offering more online and flexible programming.
鈥淲e’re listening to our community to hear what is needed and to respond to that,” she said. 鈥淭here are several new initiatives on the horizon, and our new strategic plan, Momentum 2, will only strengthen our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging throughout the University. We are looking forward to that.”