Broward College Recognized with Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. – October 11, 2021 – INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has named Broward College a recipient of the 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. The HEED Award is the only national award that honors individual institutions for being outstanding examples of colleges and universities that are committed to making diversity and inclusion a top priority across their campuses.

“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—as well as continued leadership support for diversity and 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 campus.”

Broward College consistently focuses work on diversity, equity and inclusion for employees and students through initiatives, programs and outreach. Of the almost 60,000 students served by the institution, 36.3 percent are Latinx and 28.6 percent are Black. Of that number, 46 percent of the students are first generation college students. The College has more than 4,300 employees with a diversity makeup of 47.6 percent White and 26.9 percent Black or African American. Of these employees, 24.1 percent identified as Hispanic or Latino.

"We are honored to be a recipient of this year’s HEED Award," said Broward College President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. "Our faculty and staff are dedicated to fostering a learning-centered community that celebrates diversity and inclusion, and to ensuring that every student—regardless of race, age, nationality, gender or income—has what they need to succeed."

The College’s programs and services offer a comprehensive approach to serving every student by removing barriers to access and success inside and outside the classroom. Student-focused programs and initiatives include the Minority Male Initiative, Peer Mentoring and BC Pride. Among the recent approaches to expand its reach into the diverse communities the College serves is Broward UP™, with the UP meaning Unlimited Potential. Launched in 2018, Broward UP expands the College’s service model to increase college access and deliver workforce education in communities impacted by high unemployment and low education attainment.

In June 2020, the College also launched one of its most recent initiatives for internal accountability and engagement. The Advisory Council for the Advancement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ACADEI) oversees the College’s focus across seven areas— accountability, benchmark best practices, cultural competence, communication and discussion, training and education, policy/procedure/practice, and community outreach. Through the ACADEI, the College also established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) student learning outcome for general education courses, under the College’s Global Awareness competency.

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