WCU Earns Fifth HEED Award for Excellence in Advancing DEI
For the fifth consecutive year, West Chester University has received the Higher Education
Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
This national honor recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an
outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“The HEED Award demonstrates engagement in a wide array of best practices, in addition to innovation and a collective commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This award is all about what we do, not just what we say,” said Tracey Robinson, WCU Vice President for the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. “We are so proud to receive this national recognition for the fifth time. Diversity is broadly defined and this award recognizes how the University serves all students.”
West Chester was recognized for these diversity and inclusion efforts:
- The COMPASS (Commitment to the Objective of Mentoring Perseverance, Achievement, Sustainability, and Success) Program, which had an 87% student retention rate.
- The 50th Anniversary of the Gordon Natural Area, which featured new signage throughout that was translated into the Lenape language followed by the English language. In part, this was a partnership with the Delaware Tribe of Indians.
- The expansion of services and outreach to pregnant and parenting students.
- The Moon Shot for Equity Initiative to close equity gaps through strategic efforts to eliminate barriers such as hold reform, proactive advising with technology, transfer pathways, and more.
“The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity. “We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. 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.”
As a recipient of the annual HEED Award, West Chester will be featured, along with 113 other recipients, in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.
Click here to visit WCU’s Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Visit Insight Into Diversity for the complete list of 2024 HEED Award institutions.
Insight Into Diversity magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education. Since its inception in 2012, the HEED Award has been the only national honor to recognize institutions of higher education for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.