Highline College becomes a four-time winner of national diversity award

School is the only community college in state to be recognized for excellence

November 7, 2016 3:30 pm

For the fourth consecutive year, Highline College has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Highline was one of only two institutions in Washington — the other being Whitworth University — and one of only nine community colleges nationwide to receive the 2016 award.

Given by Insight Into Diversity magazine, the HEED Award is presented annually to institutions demonstrating initiatives that embrace all aspects of diversity, including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.

“While we look at numbers and expect continued improvement for those schools that receive the HEED Award year after year, we also use a holistic approach in reviewing each application. Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

With more than 70 percent students of color and people representing more than 120 cultures, Highline is the most racially and ethnically diverse institution of higher education in Washington. Highline has won a number of awards of late, giving the college national recognition as a leader among the nation’s community colleges for advancing educational equity and social justice.

“We have enjoyed extraordinary recognitions from Insight Into Diversity and other organizations in recent years reflecting our innovative initiatives that improve student success and engage our communities. I hope that this wonderful award enhances the pride that our students feel about the quality of their own educational accomplishments,” said Dr. Jack Bermingham, Highline’s president.

As a recipient of the 2016 HEED Award, Highline is featured in the magazine’s November issue, along with the 82 other recipients.