This image is a circular logo for the "Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award 2024" presented by Insight Into Diversity. The outer ring of the logo is dark blue, with the text "Insight Into Diversity" written in white at the top. Inside the circle is a stylized graduation cap in light blue and white, with the award's name prominently displayed in bold, capitalized blue letters. A graduation tassel hangs to the right of the cap.

Ball State University Earns Ninth HEED Award

For the ninth consecutive year, Ball State University has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity-focused magazine and website in higher education.

The HEED Award, which involves a rigorous application process, honors U.S. colleges and universities that excel in their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Ball State will appear in the magazine’s November/December 2024 issue alongside other recipients.

Recognizing Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

“Ball State University is proud to be a diverse and inclusive education community where our students, faculty, and staff are supported and welcomed,” said  Dr. Charlene Alexander, Chief Strategy officer at Ball State. “We are honored to have earned this special recognition again.”

“This recognition speaks to our campus culture and who we are as an institution,” said Dr. Rashida Willard, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence at Ball State. “I am proud of our continued work toward inclusiveness.”

The Role of the Office of Inclusive Excellence

The Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) at Ball State University recruits, retains, and celebrates diverse faculty, staff, and students, respecting the diversity of people, opinions, and ideas within our community.

They work to make cultural and intellectual diversity a defining part of Ball State’s identity. To do this they provide trusted training and development resources, and foster a supportive environment for individuals of all backgrounds through advocacy. By advancing intentional policies, systems, and infrastructure, we aim to remove barriers to equity and inclusion while building an inclusive community through personal connections and mutual understanding.

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