UK Receives INSIGHT Into Diversity 2019 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award

By Ryan Girves

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2019) — Today, the University of Kentucky received the 2019 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 — UK will be featured in the November 2019 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the third year UK has been named as a HEED Award recipient.

“We know our campus thrives when we cultivate an inclusive community of belonging that celebrates the distinctiveness of our people," said UK President Eli Capilouto. "This award recognizes the rich tapestry of culture, race, background, ethnicity and lived experiences that fuel our efforts to do more — and be more — for our community, as the University for Kentucky.”

UK Vice President for Institutional Diversity Sonja Feist-Price said she is delighted that UK has received the HEED Award for the third consecutive year.

This award is a testament of collaborative partnerships throughout our campus community who work diligently to create a community of belonging — where all of our constituents, irrespective of identity or perspective, feel that they matter to this University and thus feel a sense of belonging," she said. "This is what makes a university great. While this University isn’t all it has the potential to be as it relates to diversity, equity and inclusion, this award reflects that we’re moving in the right direction."

This recognition in consistent with the university's focus on promoting sustainable transformation around inclusion and diversity. With programs in place like the Ambassadors for Inclusive Excellence under the MLK Center and International Center, the Inclusive Health Summit within Inclusive Health Partnerships, and the Audre Lorde Living-Learning Program, a program facilitated through the Office of LGBTQ* Resources, UK strives to be a place where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to succeed.

“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.”

UK has earned several accolades for diversity and inclusion efforts in the last year, including a Forbes ranking for Best Employers for Diversity, recognition as a Diversity Champion by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine and a “Best of the Best” Top 30 LGBTQ-friendly college recognition by Campus Pride.

These recognitions speak volumes to the dedication and hard work of faculty and staff across campus in their efforts to build and sustain a culture of inclusive excellence.

For more information about the 2019 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com. For more information about UK's diversity efforts, visit uky.edu/diversity.

Other recipients of the 2019 HEED Award are:

• Adelphi University
• Arkansas State University
• Augustana College (IL)
• Ball State University
• California State University, East Bay
• California State University, Fresno
• California State University Northridge
• California State University San Marcos
• California State University, Fullerton
• California State University, Los Angeles
• Case Western Reserve University
• Central Washington University
• Clemson University
• Columbia University in the City of New York
• Cuyahoga Community College
• Davenport University
• DePaul University East Carolina University
• Eastern Washington University
• El Paso County Community College District
• Florida State University
• Framingham State University
• Georgia State University
• Grand Valley State University
• Greenville Technical College
• Hillsborough Community College
• Indiana University Bloomington
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
• Kansas State University
• Kent State University
• Lehigh University
• Louisiana State University
• Maryville University
• Metropolitan State University
• Metropolitan State University of Denver
• Millersville University
• Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
• Mississippi State University
• North Carolina State University
• Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
• Northeastern University
• Ohio University
• Oklahoma State University
• Oregon State University
• Pikes Peak Community College
• Princeton University Rochester Institute of Technology
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Seminole State College of Florida
• Sonoma County Junior College District
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• State University of New York College of Cortland
• SUNY Buffalo State College
• SUNY Old Westbury
• Swarthmore College
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Christian University
• Texas Tech University
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham
• The University of Tulsa
• Union College, NY
• University at Albany, State University of New York
• University of Central Florida
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Georgia University of Houston
• University of Houston Law Center
• University of Houston-Downtown
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• University of Louisville
• University of Maryland School of Public Health
• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• University of Missouri-Kansas City
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of North Florida
• University of North Texas
• University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• University of South Carolina
• University of South Florida
• University of West Florida
• University of West Georgia
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
• Washington State University Vancouver
• West Virginia University
• Western Michigan University
• William & Mary William Marsh Rice University
• Winston Salem State University

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. Currently, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.