By Tyler Greer
UAB News
The University of Alabama at Birmingham has received the 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
UAB, the first institution in the state of Alabama to be recognized with the HEED Award, was selected because of its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives and its broad concept of diversity. It will be recognized in the magazine’s November issue.
“We are honored to be recognized with this distinction,” said UAB President Ray Watts. “Diversity is one of our core values and strengths. We continue to recruit and retain outstanding students, faculty and staff because of our deeply embedded culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. We want to provide equal opportunities for everyone at UAB to thrive and excel.”
UAB promotes diversity in broad dimensions, perspectives and ideas — including race, ethnicity, disability, women, LGBTQ, religion and veterans — across campus programs. Paulette Patterson Dilworth, vice president for Diversity Equity and Inclusion, called the award “an important milestone in UAB diversity initiatives that have been gaining momentum over the years.
“As we continue to advance the ideals of academic excellence and its symbiotic relationship with diversity, equity and inclusion, our efforts will involve the university’s vast energies and intellectual and planning resources to develop UAB’s next five-year strategic plan,” Dilworth said.
The HEED Award process employs a comprehensive and rigorous application,” said publisher Lenore Pearlstein. “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 campus.”
