Stetson University has again won the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award in recognition of its outstanding commitment to promote belonging and inclusive excellence.

Stetson received the national HEED Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine for the second year in a row for efforts to significantly advance diversity and inclusion on the DeLand campus. The Stetson College of Law in Gulfport was honored for the fifth straight year.

“This national recognition affirms Stetson’s ongoing commitment to put people, culture and inclusive excellence at the forefront of all that we do,” said Stetson President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD. 

“Providing a sense of belonging to students, faculty and staff, who come from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, lies at the heart of our relationship-rich approach to education.”

The HEED Award requires a rigorous application process that considers such factors as an institution’s recruitment and retention of students and employees, the campus culture and leadership support for diversity. 

Stetson and 113 other winners will be featured in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine, which is a leader in advancing best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education.

“We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine.  “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.”

In receiving the award, Stetson was praised for launching new initiatives and expanding others to advance inclusion and belonging at a time when some institutions nationally are pulling back from these efforts. 

Stetson, for example, has approved the new Forward Together strategic priorities for 2023-2030, which puts the core focus on “People, Culture and Inclusive Excellence.” This emphasis is vital for academic excellence, alumni engagement, student success and more.

On the DeLand campus and at the College of Law, the university has created a Cross-Cultural Awareness Initiative to celebrate cultural holidays and observances, such as Juneteenth, Pride Month, Disability Pride Month and Hispanic Heritage Month. These celebrations include cultural awareness and education, allowing for a cross-cultural exchange. 

In addition, the College of Law started an Inns of Court Orientation Model for its first-year law students, who now attend activities as a cohort throughout the year. This increases their sense of belonging, including among the underrepresented students from different backgrounds and identities. The innovative approach also helps with their development of a professional identity and fosters cultural competence.

“It is such an honor for Stetson’s College of Law to receive this honor for the fifth year,” said Law Dean D. Benjamin Barros. “Initiatives like our ‘Inns’ Orientation model and cross-cultural learning efforts not only promote an important sense of belonging, but they also empower our law students through thoughtful engagement with their future roles as lawyers and leaders throughout the diversity of communities they will serve.”

To support Stetson employees, Human Resources has launched Employee Resource/Affinity Groups to help faculty and staff feel valued and empowered to succeed. Employees who volunteer for the affinity groups share a common purpose, identity or interest, such as groups for LGBTQ+IA, Working Parents/Caregivers, and various Hobbies.

“I am so excited about Stetson’s continued momentum in empowering our students, staff, faculty, and alumni from such a wide diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to not only thrive as their genuine selves, but to also learn and connect with each other across our celebrated differences,” said Carmen B. Johnson, Executive Officer for Institutional Inclusive Excellence.

“The HEED Award is an affirmation of our current efforts and for the innovations that lie ahead,” she said.

-Stetson Today