Framingham State University Wins Diversity Award Again

Framingham State University again has been recognized for its efforts to support diversity and inclusion on campus with a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award.

The award is given by INSIGHT into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity magazine and website in higher education today. Framingham State will be featured along with 92 other recipients in the magazine’s November 2015 issue.

“One of our Core Values at Framingham State is to encourage a supportive, diverse and collaborative environment in which we learn from each other through informed and open communication,” said University President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos. “We are honored to receive this national recognition from Insight into Diversity for our efforts support a diverse and inclusive campus.”

Framingham State University believes that striving for excellence in institutional diversity and inclusion efforts requires a high quality, comprehensive approach. The University hired Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sean Huddleston in January 2015 to lead the effort.

“Our model for Inclusive Excellence enables us to fully leverage the rich diversity found within our ranks of students, staff, faculty, alumni and community constituents,” Huddleston said, in a press release. “With active participation at all levels on campus, we are confident that our commitment to excellence for all of our students will be achieved.”

Earlier this month, Framingham State celebrated the opening of its Center for Inclusive Excellence, which is dedicated to creating and supporting an environment that reflects a collective commitment to promoting equity, advocating social justice and making excellence inclusive.

The HEED award is the only national recognition honoring colleges and universities that exhibit outstanding efforts and success in the area of diversity and inclusion throughout their campuses.

“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. We take a holistic 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 accomplished every day across a campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.