(ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY) September 13, 2022 — Today, Rockland Community College received the 2022 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 — Rockland Community College will be featured, along with 102 other recipients, in the November 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the second year RCC has been named as a HEED Award recipient.
Rockland Community College is proud to be a HEED Award Recipient for a second year in a row. RCC Officer in Charge Dr. Susan Deer stated that “we take pride in our diversity, which is a collaboration between the college and the community, where we provide resources and opportunities for all. Diverse college campuses bring a variety of perspectives that open our minds and innovative ideas that expand our horizons. This creates an atmosphere of respect, where we value our differences, build trust and understanding across cultures. We will continue to work together to increase diversity initiatives across the campus community.”
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected Rockland Community College in part due to the college’s collaborative approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recognizing that effective diversity, equity and inclusion work cannot be undertaken by one small office, the college established the Steps Beyond Statements committee. The committee has representation from students, administrators and faculty, reports to the Chief Diversity Officer and the President (currently the Officer in Charge), and is responsible for moving the diversity, equity, and inclusion/inclusive excellence agenda. According to RCC Chief Diversity Officer Melissa L. Roy, JD, “the committee’s work will be critical to the success of the College’s Inclusive Excellence Plan, which was established during the 2021-2022 academic year and includes more than 200 action items to be undertaken through the 2025-2026 academic year.”
“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.”
RCC is one of five campuses and the only community college of the State University of New York (SUNY) to be recognized this year with the HEED Award. Other recipients of the 2022 HEED Award are:
Adelphi University
Agnes Scott College
Arkansas State University
Augustana College (IL)
Ball State University
Berklee College of Music
Binghamton University
Broward College
California State University Los Angeles
California State University San Marcos
California State University, Fresno
Case Western Reserve University
Clemson University
Colorado School of Mines
Columbia University in the City of New York
Cuyahoga Community College
Davenport University
East Carolina University
El Paso County Community College District
Emory University
Farmingdale State College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida State University
Franklin & Marshall College
Georgia Institute of Technology
Greeneville Technical College
Hope College
Hudson County Community College
Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis
Indiana University Bloomington
James Madison University
Johns Hopkins University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
Lehigh University
Miami University
Millersville University
Mississippi State University
Mount Holyoke College
Northern Illinois University
Northwestern University
Ohio University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Portland State University
Princeton University
Regis College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rowan University
Saginaw Valley State University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Smith College
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University System
Southwestern Law School
Stetson University College of Law
Suffolk University
SUNY Old Westbury
Swarthmore College
Temple University
Texas A & M University
Texas A & M University – San Antonio
Texas Christian University
Texas Tech University
The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at San Antonio
The University of Tulsa
Towson University
Tulane University
University at Albany
University of California, Berkeley
University of Central Florida
University of Cincinnati
University of Florida
University of Georgia
University of Houston
University of Houston Law Center
University of Illinois Chicago
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
University of Kentucky
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisville
University of Massachusetts Lowell
University of Missouri – St. Louis
University of North Carolina Charlotte
University of North Carolina Greensboro
University of North Florida
University of North Texas
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of South Florida
University of West Florida
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Widener University
William & Mary
For more information about the 2022 HEED Award, visit insightintodiversity.com.
For more information about Rockland Community College, visit sunyrockland.edu.
About Rockland Community College
Rockland Community College (RCC), located in Suffern New York, provides purpose driven educational opportunities in a supportive, affordable, and accessible environment, empowering individuals to positively transform themselves and their communities. RCC welcomes students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Many graduates go on to top universities to further their education on their own or through RCC’s institutional collaborations.
RCC fosters an environment that attracts, recruits, supports, and retains faculty, staff, and students who value diversity. The College promotes a collegial and inclusive environment by recognizing, promoting, embracing, respecting, and celebrating the expansive range and dimensions of cultures, attitudes, ideas, and viewpoints contained within our campus community.
RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through a variety of programs and educational opportunities including workforce training, certifications, and micro credentials. Many of the programs are developed with employers in the community in high demand industry areas to enable graduates to move into a new career upon graduation. More information can be found at sunyrockland.edu.
About INSIGHT Into Diversity
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is well-known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at insightintodiversity.com.
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