Augusta University has received two prestigious national awards recognizing its commitment to diversity and inclusion from the oldest higher education, diversity-focused publication.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine named Augusta University among 80 institutions nationwide to receive the 2017 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award and listed the university with 24 other medical academic centers as recipients of the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award.  The publication awarded the institution because of its ongoing diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus.

“Our university strives to exemplify diversity and inclusion, and we work hard to create a healthy environment for all people,” said Dr. Lindsey West, Augusta University’s Interim Chief Diversity Officer. “We are grateful and honored the magazine recognized our university, and we will continue following our goals of being a welcoming and open institution.”

According to West, the magazine recognized the university’s efforts in offering ongoing cultural competency education opportunities and programs to reduce population-based disparities, such as the Safe ZONE interactive online training as well as the Summer Bio-medical Research Pipeline Program for high schoolers.

As a recipient of both HEED Awards, Augusta University was featured in the magazine’s November and December 2017 issues. This marks the fourth time the magazine has presented the university with the higher education excellence award and a second for the health professions recognition.

The INSIGHT Into Diversity HEED Award, open to all colleges and universities across the U.S., measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.