The University of Vermont is a recipient of the 2015 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The HEED Award is a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. This is the second year in a row that UVM has been named as a HEED Award recipient.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected UVM based on its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives and its ability to embrace a broad definition of diversity on its campus. Wanda Heading-Grant, vice president of the Division of Human Resources, Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, said, “I am extremely proud that UVM has won this award for the second year in a row. It’s a testament to the focus that the university takes towards creating a learning and work environment that is inclusive and affirming of all of our members.”

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. Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity, said, “We take a holistic 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 accomplished every day across a campus.”

The implementation of diversity efforts at UVM is a shared process involving executive and other institutional leaders, students, and faculty and staff. These efforts have deepened and broadened during years of strategic engagement at the university. There are many pockets of deep and ongoing diversity engagement at the University of Vermont across administrative and academic units. Vice President Heading-Grant said, “Receiving this award would not have been possible without dedicated UVM partners, especially the university’s President Tom Sullivan.”