University News

WIU Receives Insight Into Diversity 2024 Higher Education Excellence In Diversity (HEED) Award

October 10, 2024

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Today, Western Illinois University received the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — WIU will be featured, along with 113 other recipients, in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine. This is the first year WIU has been named as a HEED Award recipient.

"​​Western Illinois University strives to champion diversity initiatives across our campuses. Our University community is mindful that social justice calls for ongoing dedication, and we pause to appreciate this recognition that highlights Western's ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive campus environments, programs, and policies that ensure every person feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive," WIU Interim President Kristi Mindrup said.

Insight Into Diversity magazine selected WIU to recognize the efforts made by individuals and offices across the institution to create, foster and maintain an equity-minded community. These ongoing initiatives reflect the University's commitment to diversity and inclusion, showcasing the work that has been done and continues to be done throughout the campus, as highlighted by WIU's JIDE Director, Carl Ervin.

"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," Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine said. "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."

Other recipients of the 2024 HEED Award are:

Undergraduate Institutions
Adelphi University, Agnes Scott College, Arkansas State University, Augustana College (IL), Ball State University, Bentley University, Binghamton University (SUNY), Brown University, Cal State LA, California State University San Marcos, California State University, Fresno, Carnegie Mellon University, Clemson University, Columbia University in the City of New York, Cornell University, DePaul University, Drake University, Drexel University, Elon University, Emory University, Farmingdale State College, Framingham State University, Franklin and Marshall College, George Mason University, Gonzaga University, Governors State University, Hope College, Indiana University, Indiana University Indianapolis, Johns Hopkins University, Kansas State University, Kent State University, Lasell University, Lawrence University, Lehigh University, Loyola Marymount University, Maryville University, McDaniel College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Miami University, Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Mississippi State University, Mount Holyoke College, Nazareth University, Northern Illinois University, Ohio University, Oklahoma State University, Portland State University, Regis College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rowan University, Saint Louis University, San Diego State University, Santa Clara University, Smith College, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Stetson University, Stony Brook University, Suffolk University, SUNY Old Westbury, SUNY Oneonta, Swarthmore College, Temple University, Texas Christian University, The Colorado College, The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Towson University, Trinity College, Tulane University, UC Merced, UNC Charlotte, University at Albany, State University of New York, University of California, Berkeley, University of Central Florida, University of Cincinnati, University of Georgia, University of Louisville, University of Lynchburg, University of Massachusetts Boston, University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Oregon, University of Pittsburgh, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Whitman College.

Law & Graduate Schools
Adler University, College of Business at Pacific University, Indiana University Indianapolis Graduate School, New York University Silver School of Social Work, South Texas College of Law Houston, UC Davis School of Law, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, University of Maryland - The Graduate School.

Community Colleges
Anne Arundel Community College, Community College of Aurora, Connecticut State Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Essex County College, Germanna Community College, Greenville Technical College, Hudson County Community College, Joliet Junior College, Long Beach City College, Moraine Valley Community College, Pikes Peak State College, Rock Valley College, Rockland Community College, Santa Rosa Junior College, William Rainey Harper College.

For more information about the 2024 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com/.

For more information about WIU, visit wiu.edu.

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About Insight Into Diversity
Insight Into Diversity magazine is the leader in advancing best practices in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in higher education. Through thought-provoking print and online articles, we share expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top DEI programs at colleges and universities, headline news, and much more to help keep our readers informed and empower them to advance DEI initiatives at their institutions. To further our mission, we created the Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in 2012. The HEED Award — including the more targeted Insight Into Diversity Health Professions, Law School, and Community College HEED Awards — is the only national honor to recognize institutions of higher education for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Current, archived, and digital issues of Insight Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.

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