For the second consecutive year, Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) is a recipient of INSIGHT Into Diversity’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in recognition of its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

WSSU is the only historically Black college and university (HBCU) to receive the award this year.

“We are honored to be selected again for this prestigious national award,” said Dr. Elwood L. Robinson, WSSU chancellor. “This is a testament to the work our faculty and staff do every day to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for all Rams to be successful.”

According to the magazine, WSSU was selected for its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives and for embracing a broad concept of diversity on campus, including gender, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBT community.

WSSU Pride

WSSU, the only HBCU to receive the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award for 2019, celebrated its first Pride Week in April.

WSSU launched a number of programs and initiatives over the past year that demonstrate this commitment, including implementing strategies to help male students succeed and hosting its first Pride Week in April. For faculty and staff, WSSU is launching a three-year initiative to support faculty development and curriculum redesign to strengthen programs in the humanities. The initiative is funded through a $600,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

“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 — 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 their campus.”

WSSU will be featured in the November issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. The recipients were announced on Sept. 18.

WSSU is one of 94 recipients nationwide and one of four North Carolina winners. The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, East Carolina University and North Carolina State University also received the award.