The University of Oklahoma continues to be nationally recognized for its perseverance in nurturing a place of belonging. For the second consecutive year, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has honored OU with its Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award, which recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The publication also awarded OU the 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award for the university’s commitment to unlocking pathways to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics for historically underserved students.
OU will be featured, along with 103 other recipients, in the November 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
“OU and the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are honored to be recognized by INSIGHT Into Diversity,” said Belinda Higgs Hyppolite, vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. “The work of creating inclusive spaces and helping facilitate belonging across all three OU campuses is the entire community’s responsibility. I am so honored to work with faculty, staff, students and alumni who care about the people in this community and are doing the hard work to improve the conditions that matter for all of us.”
HEED Award
The university’s commitment to making OU a place of belonging for all is emphasized as one of the five pillars in the “Lead On, University” Strategic Plan. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is leading the charge of inclusion and belonging at OU by ensuring that the comprehensive plan outlined in the Strategic Plan is continually advancing.
To support this commitment, the university has enhanced several measures designed to recruit and retain prospective students and employees from a variety of backgrounds. Indigenous Preview Day, Crimson Summit, Sower’s Day and The Weekend are recruitment events designed to showcase OU to high school students from historically underrepresented communities, first-generation students and students from rural communities. High school students are also supported by their involvement with Upward Bound, a federally sponsored program that helps prepare Oklahoma City school district students for success in high school and into college.
College retention and graduation rates are the primary goals of the Project Threshold and the McNair Scholars programs. Both programs concentrate on assisting students who are low-income, first-generation, veteran or have a documented disability, but focus on different aspects of the student’s academic lifecycle. Project Threshold is a one-stop service system that supports undergraduate students throughout their academic life, whereas the McNair program encourages, guides and mentors students in preparation for graduate school. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion also supports students with disabilities by working across the university to decrease barriers to success.
The division also has contributed to faculty retention with two initiatives to acknowledge their value and contribution to OU. Lifting the Voices of Inclusion is an annual award ceremony that recognizes faculty members for their work in supporting marginalized communities at OU and in the communities surrounding the OU campuses. The division also formed the Inclusion Council, comprised of faculty, staff and administrators representing all OU campuses who contribute their administrative and scholarly expertise to advise on critical diversity issues and planning and to promote and build communities of care.
