Moraine Valley Community College is among 92 U.S. colleges and universities that received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. The college has been selected for this award since the magazine started the recognition program in 2012. Moraine Valley was one of 12 community colleges to receive the honor and one of only two community colleges to have received the award all four years.
Moraine Valley was selected for the award because of its “outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion,” according to the magazine.
“We are extremely pleased and proud to rank among this select group of higher education institutions to receive this award,” said Dr. Sylvia M. Jenkins, college president. “We are proud of the strides we have made, but we continuously look for ways to improve. We are committed to student success and part of that is to provide an environment for students and faculty and staff that is welcoming and supportive.”
Magazine officials stated that Moraine Valley was selected based on the institution’s exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives and ability to embrace a broad definition of diversity on its campus, including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.
“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. 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,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
For more information, contact Mark Horstmeyer, director of College Relations at Moraine Valley, at (708) 974-5275 or horstmeyer@morainevalley.edu.
