Award Recognizes Diversity At ECU | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: The author of this post, Jamie Smith, is a contributor to ECU News Services.

    One of East Carolina University's seven guiding principles is to "keep our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness" and for the fifth consecutive year ECU has been recognized for that commitment by receiving the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award.

    The HEED award is sponsored by Insight into Diversity magazine and recognizes colleges and universities in the U.S. that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The 2016 award winners were selected for initiatives that focus on all aspects of diversity including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community.

    "Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus," said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT into Diversity magazine.

    "At ECU we recognize that our students will live and work in a global economy where diversity is not only an asset, but an essential value. We are committed to being an inclusive community where we value our differences and our ability to learn from one another. Different voices, opinions, backgrounds, and perspectives blend to make us stronger and wiser. I am proud our campus is being recognized for its commitment to making everyone feel welcome," said ECU Chancellor, Dr. Cecil Staton.

    ECU is dedicated to being a community that is reflective of a globally diverse workplace for students and employees. Several groups and programs specifically address diversity and inclusion at ECU, including the Chancellor's Diversity Leadership Cabinet, the LGBT Resource Office for Students, the Organization of African American Staff and Faculty, the Safe Zone program and the Ledonia Wright Cultural Center.

    The university continues to move forward with initiatives that improve diversity and inclusion.

    "Last fall we administered a campus-wide climate survey and released the results in the spring. The Office of Equity and Diversity is coordinating focus groups to better understand the results," said LaKesha Forbes, associate provost for equity and diversity.

    Information from the climate survey and focus groups as well as ECU's strategic plan are being used to develop an institutional diversity plan. The plan will focus on goals in the four areas of institutional viability and vitality, campus climate, access and success, and education and scholarship.

    "It's about our pursuit toward inclusive excellence," said Forbes.

    ECU and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill were the only schools in the state to receive the award.