Topic: Inclusive Excellence

September 14, 2020

For the fifth consecutive year, Ball State University has received a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from “INSIGHT Into Diversity,” the oldest and largest diversity magazine and website in higher education.

The HEED Award recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. As a recipient, Ball State will be featured in the magazine’s November 2020 issue, alongside 91 other institutions.

Dr. Marsha McGriff, the University’s associate vice president for inclusive excellence, said the award reflects how Ball State fosters an environment where students, faculty, and staff feel like they are a part of a movement, working together to build an inclusive and welcoming campus.

“Our academic deans, faculty, staff, and students have wrapped themselves around this work,” McGriff said. “Their enthusiasm and commitment have elevated a spirit of collegiality and connection at this seminal time in our nation’s history.

“The work is not done; there is much more for us to do.”

An enduring value

Inclusiveness is one of Ball State’s enduring values, and Institutional and Inclusive Excellence is among five ambitious goals in the University’s strategic plan, “Destination 2040: Our Flight Path.”
Initiatives moving inclusiveness from idea to action include the Office of Inclusive Excellence’s collaboration with local law enforcement and Muncie Community Schools to provide professional development about implicit bias, microaggressions, conflict resolution, and de-escalation.

Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of “INSIGHT Into Diversity” noted that the magazine’s standards are high, and only universities with diversity and inclusion efforts woven into everyday campus life are presented the HEED award.

McGriff predicted those efforts will only continue to grow. “Ball State is an exemplar and leader in inclusive excellence in our state and our nation because of the collective efforts of our campus and our community.

“We are all partners in this work.”

For more information about the 2020 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.