Tulane receives 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award

Tulane University has received the 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. As a recipient of the annual HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — Tulane will be featured, along with 108 other recipients, in the November/December 2023 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the second year Tulane has been named as a HEED Award recipient.

"Receiving the 2023 HEED Award for our EDI efforts is a tremendous honor for our entire Tulane community,” said Associate Provost for Diversity and Faculty Development and Chief Diversity Officer Anneliese Singh. “I am very grateful for the EDI Office staff and for all of the EDI champions across campus who work to ensure EDI is embedded into all we do as Tulanians.” 

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected Tulane in recognition of the tireless work of the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, which is dedicated to supporting an inclusive environment for the entire Tulane community. 

Creating an inclusive university dedicated to equity, diversity, compassion, respect and opportunity for students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds is one of the main pillars of President Michael A. Fitts’ strategic vision for Tulane. This includes long-term, university-wide commitments through the numerous initiatives of the Presidential Commission on Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Two major components of the commission are A Plan for Now, which provides structure and direction for EDI initiatives already underway, and A Strategy for Tomorrow, which will guide such initiatives across the university over the next four years. 

As well as Fitts, Singh recognized the support of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Patrick Norton and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Multicultural Affairs Carolyn Barber-Perre for their commitments and investments in the university’s EDI work. 

Although much more work remains to be done in creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive community, Tulane has shown measurable progress. Students of color from the United States comprise more than 30% of the Class of 2027 and 13% of these newest Tulanians identify as LGBTQIA+, an all-time high for Tulane. 

“This award fuels us for the EDI change work ahead of us,” said Singh.

“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 — leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many 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.”

Click here to see the full list of 2023 HEED Award recipients. 

For more information about the 2023 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com. 

For more information about Tulane’s Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, visit edi.tulane.edu.