For the fifth consecutive year, Swarthmore has been awarded the INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award recognizing colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. 

“The HEED Award not only allows Swarthmore to celebrate the College’s achievements in diversity, equity, and inclusion, but it also reminds us that the work is never done,” says Tiffany Thompson, interim associate dean of inclusive excellence. “An inclusive community means ongoing self-evaluations and improvements to truly make change.”

INSIGHT recognized Swarthmore’s undocumented student policy, need-blind admissions, enrollment-fee waivers, and partnerships as examples of admissions policies and programs designed to recruit first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students. 

Additionally, the College’s Chester Community Fellows program, Philip Evans Scholars Program, veterans initiatives, and veterans affinity group were acknowledged. In previous years, the Discover Swarthmore program, Swarthmore Summer Scholars Program, and Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program were cited; they were also included in this year’s nomination.

The HEED award assesses on-campus initiatives, programs, outreach, student recruitment, retention, and hiring practices for faculty and staff in the nomination process. It is the only national award that honors individual institutions for being outstanding examples of colleges and universities committed to making diversity and inclusion a top priority across their campuses. 

“Through the development of new initiatives like our Textbook Affordability Program this year, we  are consistently looking to build on these efforts, broaden our commitments, and show our dedication to these values,” says Thompson.