Southern Illinois University System Receives Insight Into Diversity 2022 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (Heed) Award
September 13, 2022
Springfield, IL — The Southern Illinois University System has received the 2022 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 – the SIU System will be featured as the only HEED System Award Winner in the country, along with 102 other college and university recipients, in the November 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
“To be recognized on behalf of our efforts as a system really compliments the work we have undertaken this past year to become an anti-racist organization that molds diversity, equity, and inclusion into our foundation. It also shines a light on the amazing faculty, staff and students who have led our efforts. This award is proof positive that their actions are making a difference on our campuses and in our communities,” said SIU System President Dan Mahony.
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected the SIU System for its proactive decision to promote and hire administrators who better reflect the diversity of its students. Additional key factors included accessible and affordable education on SIU Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses, focus on recruitment and retention efforts of historically underrepresented ad first generation students, diversity planning and accountability, diversity-themed fundraising campaigns, resources for LGBTQ+ faculty and students, and multicultural branding and communication techniques such as the creation of an online Inclusive Language Guide, Conversations of Understanding, and the bold move of SIU System to officially adopt the designation of becoming an “anti-racist system.”
“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 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.”
Other recipients of the 2022 HEED Award are:
Adelphi University
Agnes Scott College
Arkansas State University
Augustana College (IL)
Ball State University
Berklee College of Music
Binghamton University
Broward College
California State University Los Angeles
California State University San Marcos
California State University, Fresno
Case Western Reserve University
Clemson University
Colorado School of Mines
Columbia University in the City of New York
Cuyahoga Community College
Davenport University
East Carolina University
El Paso County Community College District
Emory University
Farmingdale State College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida State University
Franklin & Marshall College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Greeneville Technical College
Hope College
Hudson County Community College
Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University Bloomington
James Madison University
Johns Hopkins University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
Lehigh University
Miami University
Millersville University
Mississippi State University
Mount Holyoke College
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University
Ohio University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Portland State University
Princeton University
Regis College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rockland Community College
Rowan University
Saginaw Valley State University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Smith College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southwestern Law School
Stetson University College of Law
Suffolk University
SUNY Old Westbury
Swarthmore College
Temple University
Texas A & M University
Texas A & M University – San Antonio
Texas Christian University
Texas Tech University
The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Tulsa
Towson University
Tulane University
University at Albany
University of California, Berkeley
University of Central Florida
University of Cincinnati
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Houston Law Center
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisville
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Missouri - St. Louis
University of North Carolina Charlotte
University of North Carolina Greensboro
University of North Florida
University of North Texas
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of South Florida
University of West Florida
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Widener University
William & Mary
For more information about the 2022 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com. For more information about the Southern Illinois University System and its campuses, visit www.siusystem.edu.
# # #
About the Southern Illinois University System
Founded in 1869 as Illinois’ second teacher’s college, the SIU System is now made up of two nationally recognized universities that provide students with diverse interactions, student-centered research and a comprehensive learning experience – Southern Illinois University Carbondale, with an on-campus law school, and a School of Medicine in Springfield and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, with an on-campus Pharmacy School, a School of Dental Medicine in Alton and a Center in East St. Louis. An economic engine for the southern half Illinois, the University employs more than 7,000 faculty and staff who serve over 23,000 students. A modern and inclusive post-secondary educational system, SIU offers a broad range of academic programs that lead to associate, baccalaureate, master's, specialist's, and doctoral and professional practice degrees in 32 fields including law, medicine, pharmacy, and dental medicine.
About INSIGHT Into Diversity
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is well-known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.
