Ohio University wins 2018 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award

Ohio University has received top honors from INSIGHT Into Diversity with the 2018 INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. 

The INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award, open to all colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada, measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff. 

“The HEED Award affirms our commitment to diversity and inclusion. This does not mean that we have solved all problems,” Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion Gigi Secuban said. “We are going to continue to work with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to keep improving until all students feel safe and welcome on all of OHIO’s campuses.” 

OHIO was selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine to receive this award based on OHIO’s outstanding commitment to diversity. 

“Ohio University has long demonstrated its commitment to embracing diversity. Embracing diversity is something that I knew I not only wanted to continue but something I wanted to take a step further,” Ohio University President M. Duane Nellis said. “I am honored that OHIO has been recognized for the efforts that have been made to show our commitment to diversity.” 

OHIO is one of 96 institutions of higher education across the country to receive this award. All of them will be featured in the November 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. 

“It’s an incredible honor to be one of less than 100 institutions throughout the country to receive this award, and it continues to show that OHIO is an exceptional institution,” Vice President for Student Affairs Jason Pina said. 

OHIO also received a pair of  Inspiring Programs in STEM awards  from INSIGHT Into Diversity. They went to the following:

• The Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Aspiring Doctors Precollege Program is designed to foster an interest in medical and healthcare careers among underrepresented high school students. Participants are exposed to a range of healthcare professionals, including nurses, physicians and physician assistants, and engage in hands-on activities to learn critical thinking, collaboration and creativity skills.
• Tech Savvy OHIO in the College of Arts and Sciences is an annual, day-long STEM outreach program for middle school girls and their parents and teachers. Girls learn about and develop science programming abilities and the soft skills necessary to succeed in science fields. They participate in hands-on workshops while their parents and teachers attend separate sessions on college admissions, financial aid, teenage brain development, and more.