DePaul University has been awarded the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award by Insight Into Diversity magazine. This accolade recognizes the university’s commitment to comprehensive diversity initiatives, which include efforts in student recruitment and retention, faculty engagement, the expansion of staff resource groups, and support for diverse leadership.
Commitment to Diversity
José Perales, the interim vice president of diversity and equity at DePaul, commented on the importance of the award, indicating that it signifies the university’s dedication to diversity in alignment with its Vincentian values. The award also serves to signal to various stakeholders, such as students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors, that DePaul is actively fostering an equitable environment for both work and learning.
A Notable Achievement
This recognition marks the sixth occasion since 2012 that DePaul has received the HEED Award. Perales mentioned several initiatives that contribute to the university’s diversity efforts, such as actions aimed at closing the achievement gap for Black and Hispanic students. Recent diversity summits have brought together over 70 faculty and staff members to develop the strategic plan for the Office of Diversity and Equity.
Key Initiatives
Key initiatives include the formation of two new employee resource groups to support Jewish and Muslim faculty and staff, objectives to gain designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and the launch of the Black Equity Initiative designed to tackle systemic barriers affecting Black students.
Support for AANAPISI
Furthermore, DePaul has been recognized as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), enabling the university to seek federal funding to enhance educational experiences for these student populations, which is expected to benefit the wider DePaul community.
Looking Forward
While acknowledging the significance of the HEED Award, Perales emphasized that it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing work required to advance diversity and equity at DePaul University. For additional information, Insight Into Diversity provides resources regarding the HEED Award.
(Original content from Insight Into Diversity)
