Higher Education in Diversity

The University of North Florida received the 2017 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This is the third time UNF has been named a HEED Award recipient.
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—UNF will be featured along with 79 other recipients in the magazine’s November issue.
“UNF is honored to be acknowledged for its excellent initiatives in the areas of diversity and inclusion,” said UNF President John Delaney. “The University is dedicated to diversity and inclusion in the classroom and throughout the campus community.”
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected UNF based on its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives, which it continues to foster throughout all aspects of campus operations, programs, services and activities. “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 their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
The University continues to make great strides to foster its commitment to diversity and inclusion in employment, education and business in a variety of ways. For example, supplier diversity is a thrust in the newly named Procurement Services Department. Faculty are also more engaged in research and educational awareness demonstrated by the increasing number of competitively awarded Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Research Awards.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity regularly conducts training for individuals who serve on search and screening committees as well as regularly reviews recruitment and personnel actions to foster diversity and inclusion. UNF also regularly conducts programs representative of various faiths and beliefs, supports student veterans through its Military Veterans Resource Center and promotes student, faculty and staff accessibility in educational programs and in the workplace.
Additionally, the University hosts several events on campus for underrepresented populations, including C.A.M.P. Osprey, Role Models of Excellence, Girls Rock Symposium and Success by Design, to name a few. UNF also works to provide opportunities for all students to access scholarship monies in a fair and equitable manner.
“The HEED award is a tribute to key decisions made during challenging times in society to ensure that UNF remains a competitive higher education university, where students successfully graduate and enjoy their student life, faculty and staff view it as a great place to work and the community acknowledges its worth and contributions,” said Cheryl Gonzalez, chief diversity officer at UNF.
INSIGHT Into Diversity is known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, which is the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond.