UAlbany Wins National Diversity Award

UAlbany fosters a diverse and inclusive campus.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 20, 2019) – The University at Albany is once again being honored nationally for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

The magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, named UAlbany as one of its 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recipients, along with more than 90 other U.S. colleges and universities.

This is the second consecutive year UAlbany is receiving the award.

The HEED Award is open to all institutions, and measures achievements and intensity of commitment to “broadening diversity and inclusion on campus” through initiatives, programs and outreach; student recruitment, retention and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.

Honorees will be featured in the magazine’s November issue.

“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 – continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.

“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,” she added.

President Havidán Rodríguez lauded the award as validation of UAlbany’s progress in meeting its core strategic priority of diversity and inclusion.

“As one of the nation’s most diverse public research universities, we are focused on creating a campus climate where everyone is welcome and feels welcome,” said Rodríguez. “Being recognized as a HEED awardee for the second year in a row is not only a great honor, it is evidence that we continue to make progress in this critical area.”

UAlbany's Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant Vice President for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Tamra Minor added, "Maintaining a climate where differences are respected and dialogue among students, faculty, and staff who look and think differently is encouraged and supported, is critical. That, in part, is how we prepare students to be ready to contribute to the world as educated citizens with a broad world view and a deep appreciation for the values of diversity and inclusion."

Within the past year, UAlbany has developed a campus-wide mentoring program for faculty of color and women in STEM fields, and offers a digital faculty success program. The University also initiated a visitation program for historically black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions to create a pipeline from among the ranks of undergraduate students of color recruited from those institutions as well as from UAlbany to diversify the graduate student population.

In addition, UAlbany has collaborated with the SUNY-wide initiative PRODiG (Promoting Recruitment, Opportunity, Diversity, Inclusion and Growth). PRODiG aims to increase the representation of historically underrepresented faculty at SUNY, including underrepresented minority faculty in general, and women faculty of all races in STEM fields.  

Through the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Transformation Fund Award program supports faculty and staff in creating innovative initiatives that enrich campus life. The concepts must model inclusiveness, impact the campus community by stimulating creativity, promoting the exchange of ideas and be collaborative.

Diversity a Core Priority at UAlbany

More than a third of UAlbany’s Class of 2023 is made up of students from underrepresented groups. Students come from 24 states and 16 foreign countries.

The HEED Award is the only one of its kind that recognizes colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts. INSIGHT Into Diversity magazines are available online.

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