For the second consecutive year, Broward College received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a 2022 recipient of the annual HEED Award—a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion—Broward College will be featured, along with 102 other recipients, in the November 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
“We are committed to meeting the needs of our students and employees by continuously finding ways to develop the talents of our colleagues so they are equipped to fulfill our mission of transforming students’ lives,” said President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. “Being recognized a second time with this award is an acknowledgment of the people at Broward College and their dedication to fostering a learning-centered community that celebrates inclusion and ensures that every student—regardless of race, age, nationality, gender or income—has what they need to succeed.”
Broward College consistently focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion for employees and students through initiatives, programs, and outreach. Of the almost 56,000 students served by the institution, 35 percent are Hispanic, and 30 percent are Black. Of that number, 46 percent of the students are First Generation in College. The student body represents 144 countries and speaks over 50 languages. The College has more than 4,150 employees with a diversity makeup of 48 percent White and 27 percent Black or African American. Of these employees, 24 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Broward College offers holistic support to its students inside and outside the classroom. This includes an expanded service model through Broward UP™. The community-centric model launched in 2018 aims to increase college access, attainment, and economic mobility, and deliver workforce education in communities with high unemployment and low postsecondary education attainment. Other student-focused programs and initiatives to help students overcome barriers to access and success are the Minority Male Initiative, Peer Mentoring and BC Pride. To ensure support for its students, the College revamped hiring for full-time and part-time employees including faculty. This effort involved the revision of position descriptions, search committee preparation, application and interview processes, and evaluation of candidates. This new equity-driven hiring process is designed to improve student outcomes correlated with a diverse workforce.
“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 — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a detailed 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 done every day across their campus.”
For more information about the 2022 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.
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