Committed to diversity and inclusion

St. Cloud State University is among 56 colleges and universities setting a benchmark for others aspiring to achieve a diverse and inclusive environment, according to INSIGHT Into Diversity’s 2013 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Awards.

The second-annual awards given by the oldest and largest higher education diversity-focused publication recognizes broad-ranging efforts to support diversity at U.S. colleges and universities. These efforts include gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, members of the LGBT community and more.

Of the 56 colleges and universities recognized, 26 were repeat winners including St. Cloud State.

“Recognitions such as the HEED Award affirm our efforts to build and sustain an open, diverse and inclusive community,” said St. Cloud State President Earl H. Potter III.

The HEED Award is not meant to be a ranking, according to the INSIGHT Into Diversity November 2013 edition, rather it embraces all schools that reach a certain bar. Many schools have outstanding diversity initiatives in a single area, but the HEED Award recognizes institutions that excel in most aspects of diversity and inclusion.

The list of award winners includes 35 public universities, eight privates, seven community colleges and six professional schools. The University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities is the only other Minnesota 2013 HEED Award recipient.

St. Cloud State’s focus on providing a welcoming environment for all its students, faculty and staff is reflected in its mission, vision and learning commitments and in efforts to cultivate pride in the university as a catalyst for social change, growth and opportunity for all its students to succeed.