SUNY Old Westbury has earned 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 HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — SUNY Old Westbury will be featured among 115 recipients in the November/December 2024 issue. This is the seventh consecutive year SUNY Old Westbury has been named as a HEED Award recipient.
“Our commitment to fostering a campus community that truly values and embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging demands ongoing action and dedication,” said President Timothy E. Sams. "Each year, we strive for the HEED Award as a recognition of the hard work and commitment of our entire University community. Receiving this award once again is incredibly affirming, highlighting that diversity, inclusion, and a welcoming spirit are core to our identity and mission.”
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected SUNY Old Westbury for its historic, dedicated efforts related to diversity and equity. Among the accomplishments contributing to the University’s award this year was the launch of a partnership with the Hispanic Federation to bring to campus Crear Futuros, a peer-mentor based initiative designed to improve Latinx student success. SUNY Old Westbury’s winning application also focused on the creation of an annual Summer Institute for Teachers, which in 2024 offered professional development for current and future teachers under the theme “Promoting Culturally Responsive Practices and Care in Education.
Along with efforts focused on recruiting and retaining a diverse staff through equitable search practices, the campus was also feted for opening its first Multicultural Center to serve as a hub of co-curricular activities focusing on the wide variety of cultures represented within the University’s student body, which is among the most diverse in the nation.
“The HEED Award selection process is rigorous, assessing the recruitment and retention of students and faculty, pathway programs, community partnerships, leadership support for DEI initiatives, and a comprehensive list of other considerations," said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity. “The winning institutions consistently demonstrate best practices and set the standards for other colleges and universities.”
Learn more about the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.