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Resource Hub Sees Spike in Demand as Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation Grows

Nikki Brahm -
SDSU’s new Black Resource Center, founded through a student-led initiative, was introduced during a grand opening celebration in 2018. (Photo courtesy of SDSU)
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San Diego State’s Anti-Racism and Equity Programs

San Diego State University Staff -
Rural Community Colleges Collaborate to Build Economic Opportunity
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Rural Community Colleges Collaborate to Build Economic Opportunity

Erik Cliburn -
SDSU President Barry Dunn, PhD, welcomes students to the American Indian Student Center on campus.
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Wokini Initiative at South Dakota State Focuses on Indigenous Student Success

Erik Cliburn -
U.S. and global education leaders meet during the 10th annual Future of Global Higher Education conference hosted by UPenn.
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Colleges Build Partnerships to Create Opportunities for Students Globally

Erik Cliburn -
South Carolina Colleges Engage with Community to Honor Local History
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South Carolina Colleges Engage with Community to Honor Local History

Erik Cliburn -
UT Austin’s new Disability Cultural Center will serve as a space for campus community members with disabilities to connect and explore their identities.
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UT Austin Opens Disability Cultural Center Focused on Inclusion

Erik Cliburn -
A new study is delving trends into reproductive health among Deaf and hard of hearing women.
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Reproductive Access: Study Explores Health Care Barriers for Deaf Women

Nikki Brahm -
Ruth Nicole Brown, PhD, professor and Department of African American and African Studies chair at MSU, meets with students.
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Expanding Boyer’s Model to Better Recognize Diverse Faculty Roles

Nikki Brahm -
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Dept. of Education Urges Colleges to Remove Criminal Background Questions from...

INSIGHT Staff -
Georgetown University students, alumni, and faculty, along with local Muslim leaders and international diplomats, gather to celebrate the school’s Yarrow Mamout Masjid. (Photo courtesy of Leslie Kossoff/Georgetown University)
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Georgetown Dedicates First-of-Its-Kind Campus Mosque

INSIGHT Staff -
Faculty, community members, and students gathered at New College of Florida to protest the ousting of the college’s president and several board of trustee members and their replacement by anti-DEI allies of DeSantis. (Photo courtesy of United Faculty of Florida)
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Advocates Continue to Fight Proposed Anti-DEI Legislation

Nikki Brahm -
An SPH graduate student teaches a class at Urban Roots, a community organization that develops youth leadership with a focus on nutrition. (Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota School of Public Health)
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Lessons Learned From Enacting A Strategic Plan for Anti-Racism in Higher...

Lauren Jones -
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UK Doctoral Program Presents Inaugural INSIGHT Into Diversity Champion Award

Janet Edwards -
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Stanford’s REACH Initiative Advances Health Equity

Erik Cliburn -
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Schools Take Steps to Address Critical Rural Veterinarian Shortage

Erik Cliburn -
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Veteran Healers

Nikki Brahm -
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Community Clinics Provide Vital Dental Care for Hispanic Children

Erik Cliburn -
Oregon’s Three Sisters mountains are some of the highest in the state, with perpetual snow cover and glaciers that are shrinking every year. One of the projects a part of the JFI is looking at how receding glaciers impacts underrepresented communities. (Photo courtesy of Mark Carey)
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Institute Spearheads Racial, Climate Justice Projects in Pacific Northwest

Nikki Brahm -
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Invisible Labor

Nikki Brahm -
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Multicampus Program Helps Diverse Professionals Advance Careers Through Graduate Studies

Janet Edwards -
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Engaging in Productive Dialogue

Nikki Brahm -
The Michigan State University Multicultural Center, expected to be completed in fall 2024, is the result of years of student advocacy. (Image courtesy of SmithGroup)
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Michigan State Builds Long-awaited Multicultural Center

INSIGHT Staff -
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Chicago Program Wants More Men of Color to Enroll in College

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Georgetown University McDonough School of Business has launched an open-access website to share knowledge of business ethics more widely.
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New Toolkit Teaches Business Ethics

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Remembering the ‘Mother’ of the Disability Rights Movement

INSIGHT Staff -
illustration of different types of houses
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Universities Strive to Close Diversity Gaps in the Real Estate Industry

Nikki Brahm -
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Business School Strategies to Advance Women in MBA Programs and Leadership

Nikki Brahm -
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2023 Inspiring Programs in Business Award Winners

INSIGHT Staff -
The University of North Florida Students for a Democratic Society (UNF SDS) organized a campus rally to protest the Florida state government’s efforts to eliminate higher education diversity and equity initiatives. (Photo courtesy of Justin Nedrow Spinnaker Media Photography)
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The War on DEI

Erik Cliburn -
Several books stacked in a row
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University Projects Preserve Legacies of Historical Poets of Color

INSIGHT Staff -
Photo of a Black entrepreneur standing in front of a large screen
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Initiative Empowers HBCU Students and Alums as Entrepreneurs

Erik Cliburn -
One day after the mass shooting incident at Michigan State University in February, a University of Florida (UF) student called the UF Police Department (UFPD) concerned about a classmate who was researching guns and ammunition. Instead of just police responding to the call, a trained behavioral health specialist was also dispatched. “Our clinicians and officers spent three hours with that person to really flesh out why he was searching what he was searching,” says Meggen Sixbey, PhD, assistant director of the Behavioral Services Division of UFPD and a co-responder. “Do we have evidence to be concerned? In those three hours with him, they learned that he was in fear of his own safety [due to] things that were going on in his own life.” Without UF’s co-responder approach, Sixbey says, the situation could have escalated quickly or ended differently, and the student may not have received appropriate help. Due to widespread concern around mental health and fears of escalation caused by law enforcement response, partnerships between police and behavioral health specialists are growing across higher education campuses. Experts see this collaboration as a way to aid the most vulnerable by connecting them with needed resources and support. Collaborations differ campus to campus based on institutional needs. While some new programs, like the one at UF, dispatch counselors directly to the scene with police officers, others do not involve immediate on-site clinician response to dispatch situations. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, for example, works with both municipal and campus police to provide mental health support services to students, all of whom live off campus. University case managers help officers on the scene when there is no perceived imminent danger. Additional support is provided by the Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation (CARE) Team, which is a common type of program at colleges and universities. The goal is to reach students before their situation becomes critical. The CARE Team reviews referrals for urgent mental health support among students and connects them to campus resources such as case management and additional counseling services. When assessing a threat, each situation is evaluated based on the NABITA Risk Rubric, a tool used in triaging mental health concerns with an interdisciplinary team approach, says Jan Gascoigne, PhD, associate vice chancellor for student affairs, and associate clinical professor. “Often the situation is determined not to be a threat but really just someone who is struggling and needs help,” she says. “We’d rather try to work with that person, figure out what’s going on, and get them the help they need without having to escalate to a police intervention. Our campus police have the same philosophy.” New programs expand mental health services in dispatch situations, with projects being introduced at Johns Hopkins University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Oregon, Colorado State University, and California State University, Long Beach. During a six-month trial in the city of Denver, in which mental health specialists were paired with police to respond to calls involving trespassing and other nonviolent events, a 34 percent drop in crimes was reported, or approximately 1,400 fewer criminal offenses, according to the Stanford University report “A Community Response Approach to Mental Health and Substance Abuse Crises Reduced Crime,” published last year. UF’s program launched in July and is the first in the nation led by a campus police department, Sixbey says. Calls are answered by UFPD, which contacts clinicians when there is a mental health component. Situations might include, for example, a student who threatens suicide, someone who was just fired from their job, or an individual whose property was stolen. It’s essential to decriminalize mental health, or mitigate criminal offenses in such calls, Sixbey says. It’s also important to de-escalate situations with clinically trained professionals to help reduce hospitalizations, which are often traumatic, she says. The UF team is looking for more effective ways to enhance efforts to assist underrepresented individuals because the relationship between these communities and law enforcement has historically been strained, a circumstance highlighted by recent social justice activism and political attention paid to policing. In addition to a campus climate survey, UF is conducting focus groups to see how underrepresented communities on campus view the program. Preliminary feedback points to possible changes in police uniforms, where officers would wear a pin or patch to identify themselves as Crisis Intervention Team trained, which means they have received mental health instruction to guide interactions. Individuals surveyed also showed interest in making the clinician the lead responder instead of an officer. This model was used successfully a couple of months ago, Sixbey says. A faculty member of color called regarding a Black student who made a concerning statement about suicide and left the classroom abruptly. The caller didn’t want police to go to the student’s home because they were aware he had experienced past interactions with law enforcement, but the caller still felt a wellness check was warranted. Based on the information provided, the clinician was able to strategize and lead the interaction. They found that the fears the instructor had regarding the student’s mental health were not present and that he was thankful for the tailored response. “Why a program like this is so beneficial, especially to underrepresented populations, is simply because it provides an additional resource which is an alternative to law enforcement response,” Sixbey says. “Even the best law enforcement officer with an abundance of mental health and crisis intervention team training is still an officer. When you can bring a mental health worker to the scene, it can shift the dynamic and allow for a noncriminal approach to a noncriminal matter.”
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Counselor-Police Response Partnerships Benefit Students in Crisis

Nikki Brahm -
Two graduate students talk at the Preparing Future Faculty of Color Conference.
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Conference Prepares Grad Students for Careers in Academia

Erik Cliburn -
Members of the Impact Cohort, part of Launch: Equitable & Accelerated Pathways for All, sit at a table.
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National Partnership Seeks to Scale Innovative Career Pathway Programs

Erik Cliburn -
Professor Erim Gómez poses with his beard mug at UM. Items in the image signify his Mexican heritage, including his guayabera, or traditional Latin American shirt.
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Wildlife Biology Professor Weaves Indigenous Heritage into Lessons

Nikki Brahm -
Man sitting in front of computer rests his head on his hand
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What to Do Before More Campus Colleagues Head for the Door

Janet Edwards -
Scale of justice and several legal books
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Law Student Will Use Post-Grad Fellowship to Help Survivors of Human...

Erik Cliburn -
Graphic of two computers depicting different types of media
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Read, Watch, Listen: April 2023

INSIGHT Staff -
A video camera is filming two people having an interview in the background
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Partnership at Ohio State Offers Opportunities for DEI in Journalism

INSIGHT Staff -
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OU Program to Train Mental Health Personnel for Rural Schools

INSIGHT Staff -
Michigan State University student Joseph Kesto stands at a podium in front of a crowd
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Students Advocate for Gun Reform Following Michigan State Shooting

INSIGHT Staff -
Two people wearing LGBTQ+ Pride bracelets holding hands
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Common App Adds Gender Option

INSIGHT Staff -
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SUNY Cortland to Honor First Black Alum, Thanks to Student’s Effort

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Statewide Collaboration Results in Greater Financial Aid for Students

Erik Cliburn -
poster with various writing on it
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UPenn’s ‘Eidos’ Project Tackles LGBTQ+ Health Inequity, Discrimination

Nikki Brahm -
food pantry
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Community Colleges Help Vulnerable Students Access Food and Housing

Erik Cliburn -
two women talking in a science lab
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University, Community Colleges Partner for More Inclusive STEM Education

Erik Cliburn -
blurred photo of people walking in an office
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Collaborations Between Community Colleges and Employers Benefit Workforce

INSIGHT Staff -
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Northeast Ivy League Schools Reach Out to Rural Students

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Women Take Presidential Roles at Major Universities

INSIGHT Staff -
woman in graduation cap and gown holding a baby
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Community College Prioritizes Support for Student Parents

INSIGHT Staff -
students pose together during a Hillel retreat
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Protecting Jewish Students Amid Rising Antisemitism

Nancy Fowler -
overhead shot of teachers gathered around a roundtable
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University Consortium Creates Models for Career Readiness Programs

Janet Edwards -
woman sits in a classroom with a person's profile in the foreground
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Equity in the Classroom Leads to Greater Student Success

Nikki Brahm -
group of diverse people holding hands over a table
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Religious Diversity on Campus: INSPIRES Index Helps Schools Assess Their Support

Nikki Brahm -
Two people in wheelchairs sit at a conference table
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A Catalyst for Innovation: (dis)Ability Design Studio Debuts

Nikki Brahm -
medical students posts with signs about ending climate change
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Health Professions Students Grade Their Institutions on Climate Change Awareness

Lisa O'Malley -
three people pose in front of a UNF banner
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UNF Hosts Scholarship Luncheon, Receives Diversity Champion Award

INSIGHT Staff -
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Spelman to Launch Documentary Filmmaking Program

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California Programs Helps Adult Learners Return, Complete College

INSIGHT Staff -
Black woman sits alone at a table
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Study Finds Campus Diversity Doesn’t Necessarily Foster Belonging

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Read, Watch, Listen: March 2023

INSIGHT Staff -
Experts such as Caroline Laguerre-Brown, JD, vice provost for diversity, equity, and community engagement at George Washington University and a NADOHE board member, share their insights on what chief diversity officers can expect in 2023.
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DEI Strategies for 2023: Commit, Convene, Communicate

Janet Edwards -
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Read, Watch, Listen: January/February 2023

INSIGHT Staff -
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Grants Awarded to Bolster Pharmacy Workforce Diversity, Improve Health Outcomes

INSIGHT Staff -
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How the University of Kentucky Is Beating the Odds of the...

Julian Vasquez Heilig -
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Black History Month: The Role of Higher Education in Black Activism

Erik Cliburn -
In spring 2022, Southern Illinois University (SIU) administered a systemwide Viewfinder Campus Climate Survey. The findings, reports, and benchmark data help inform SIU’s anti-racism and anti-oppression initiatives.
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SIU System Campus Climate Surveys Yield Greater DEI Transparency and Innovation

Sheila Caldwell -
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California Grant Expands Health Professions Access for Underrepresented Students

Erik Cliburn -
Students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing participate in a health outreach event on campus.
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Nursing Schools Teach Advocacy Skills to Help Advance Health Equity

Nikki Brahm -
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh School of Nursing was one of several schools recognized by the American Association for Men in Nursing for its dedication to providing an inclusive learning environment for men.
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Nursing Schools Share Success Strategies for Recruiting Male Students

Lisa O'Malley -
Photo of a pile of prescription medication.
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New Mapping Tool Identifies Nation’s Pharmacy Deserts

Erik Cliburn -
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Study Tracks Diversity Outcomes for Physician Assistant Programs

Lisa O'Malley -
Pamela Rubalcava (left), student support specialist for Carroll University’s ADN program, assists nursing student Veronica Aravena-Salgado.
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Cultural Competence, Bilingual Speakers Key Components of Nursing Program

Erik Cliburn -
Photo of a woman picture from the neck down wearing a nametag to emphasize the importance of accurate name pronunciation.
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Navigating Names

Nikki Brahm -
Photo of Jerome Montgomery Jr. playing wheelchair basketball with other teammates in the background as part of an adaptive college sports program.
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Adaptive College Sports Bring Athletes with Disabilities off the Sidelines

Erik Cliburn -
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$2.5 Million Grants Target Diversity in STEM

INSIGHT Staff -
Students protest outside the Supreme Court as affirmative action cases are argued inside. (Photo courtesy Victoria Pickering via Flickr)
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Select Supreme Court Justices Assert the Diversity Benefits of Affirmative Action

INSIGHT Staff -
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2022 INSIGHT Into Diversity Health Professions HEED Award Winners

INSIGHT Staff -
The Medical University of South Carolina prioritizes recruiting and supporting underrepresented students, faculty, and staff to ensure their highest levels of success.
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Sustained DEI Efforts Lead to Greater Overall Outcomes for MUSC

Erik Cliburn -
Brittney Dixon teaches a class at the University of Florida. Dixon was hired as a result of a program by the College of Public Health and Health Professions to support a critical need for diverse research and instruction. (Photo courtesy of Jesse S. Jones/UF Health)
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Innovative Funding Helps Health Professions Research College Raise $1 Million, Advance...

Nikki Brahm -
University of La Verne Professor Jerry Kernes meets with students in the doctorate in clinical psychology program. The school’s College of Health and Community Well-Being includes programs that focus on physical and mental health.
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New Health Care Schools Open with Emphasis on Workforce Development, Addressing...

Erik Cliburn -
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Virtual Therapy Helps Colleges Meet a Growing Need Amid Increased Demand...

Nancy Fowler -
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Programs on the Rise to Help Younger Generations Achieve Financial Literacy

Nikki Brahm -
A recent report from The Trevor Project finds college students who identify as LGBTQ+ and had access to mental health services through their schools were 84 percent less likely to attempt suicide in the past year compared to LGBTQ+ students who had no access to help. (Photo courtesy of The Trevor Project)
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Suicide Risk Greater Among LGBTQ+ Students with No Access to Mental...

Nikki Brahm -
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Researchers Create Toolkit to Address Disparities in Transportation and Mobility

Erik Cliburn -
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Kinesiology and Health Promotion Program Embeds DEI Throughout Curriculum

Nikki Brahm -
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Inclusion, Support Are Key Goals of UC Berkeley’s Faculty Link Program

Erik Cliburn -
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Introductory STEM Courses Drive Out Underrepresented Female Students at Higher Rates

Nikki Brahm -
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NIH Grant Supports Northern Arizona University’s Health Equity Collaborative

INSIGHT Staff -
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Read, Watch, Listen: December 2022

INSIGHT Staff -
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CU Boulder Announces Partnership to Boost Diversity in Commercial Real Estate...

INSIGHT Staff -
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University of Louisville Celebrates 2022 INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award Recognitions

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agricultural professional records data on clipboard
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USDA Grants Bolster Educational and Workforce Development Projects at HSIs

INSIGHT Staff -
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University Conference Examines Historical and Contemporary Legacies of Slavery

INSIGHT Staff -
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2022 INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award Recipients

INSIGHT Staff -
Kiwana McClung (standing) was recently named chief diversity officer at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The school is finalizing an institutional strategic plan, and the HEED Award application has proved instrumental as McClung engages with campus-wide planning committees about diversity and inclusion initiatives.
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How the HEED Award Process Helped One University Create a More...

Janet Edwards -
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2022 HEED Award Testimonials

INSIGHT Staff -
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