The Insight Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award annually recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity, inclusive excellence, and belonging.
2024 HEED Award Recipients
Past HEED Award recipients
2024 Community College HEED Award Recipients
Past Community College HEED Award recipients
2024 Health Professions HEED Award Recipients
Past Health Professions HEED Award recipients
Thinking about applying for the HEED Award? Check out the top 10 reasons to work collaboratively with your university colleagues to complete the application.
Above: On February 22, 2022, Texas Christian University (TCU) and the TCU School of Medicine held a ceremony to celebrate being named recipients of the 2021 INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award and Health Professions HEED Award
Apply for the 2025 HEED Award
Download a sample of the 2025 HEED Award application
Apply for the 2025 Community College HEED Award
Download a sample of the 2025 Community College HEED Award application
Apply for the 2025 Graduate School HEED Award
Download a sample of the 2025 Graduate School HEED Award application
Apply for the 2025 Law School HEED Award
Download a sample of the 2025 Law School HEED Award application
Apply for the 2025 Health Professions HEED Award
Download a sample of the 2025 Health Professions HEED Award application
What is the HEED Award?
The Insight Into Diversity HEED Award, open to all colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada, measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity, inclusive excellence, and belonging on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.
Applications are comprehensive, covering all aspects of campus diversity and inclusion. One of the goals of the application process is to help institutions of higher education assess their efforts in order to build on their success and improve where necessary.
Who judges HEED Award applications?
Representatives of Potomac Publishing, Inc., publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine, review and evaluate all applications. Insight Into Diversity Editorial Board members and members of the Health Professions HEED Award Advisory Board may be asked to assist with evaluating applications.
Is there a fee to participate in the HEED Award application process?
Participation is free; there are no hidden costs.
When will the HEED Award recipients be announced?
Embargoed notification will be given to 2025 HEED Award recipients this summer. Honorees will be announced in the October 2025 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine.
Can any college or university apply for the award?
Yes. The HEED Award application is open to all baccalaureate-granting institutions and the Graduate School HEED Award application is open to all graduate schools in the U.S. and Canada. The Community College HEED Award application is open to all community colleges in the U.S. and Canada. The Health Professions HEED Award application is open to all accredited U.S. and Canadian health profession schools including, but not limited to, medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary, and osteopathic medical schools.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline for the HEED Award, the Graduate School HEED Award, and the Community College HEED Award is May 29, 2025. The application deadline for the Health Professions HEED Award is June 12, 2025.
What is the benefit of being selected as a HEED Award recipient?
The HEED Award, the Graduate School HEED Award, the Community College HEED Award, and the Health Professions HEED Award are the only national awards that honor individual institutions for being outstanding examples of colleges, universities, community colleges, or health profession schools that are committed to making diversity, inclusion, and belonging a top priority across their campuses. Sharing this important recognition with your campus and community helps showcase your school’s excellence in developing innovators and leaders for today’s global workforce.
What do HEED Award recipients receive?
Each HEED Award, Graduate School HEED Award, Community College HEED Award, and Health Professions HEED Award recipient receives a complimentary access to the HEED award logo for promotional use in print and online marketing materials. Other items are available for purchase.
