Today, The University of Toledo received the 2013 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 – UT will be featured along with 55 other recipients in INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s November 2013 issue.

“Diversity is one of The University of Toledo’s core values and it is demonstrated through our actions,” UT President Lloyd Jacobs said. “This year has brought us new opportunities to make a difference and effectively enhance the academic and professional development of our students, faculty and staff. We are part of the communities we serve and those communities make us great.”

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected UT based on the institution’s exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as UT’s ability to embrace a broad definition of diversity on campus, including gender, race, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of the LGBT community.

Most notably, UT is recognized for its unique Culture Building Institute Diversity Certificate, the UT Minority Business Development Center and being named a 2012 Leader in LGBT Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign.

“The University of Toledo has experienced tremendous growth in the area of diversity within a relatively short amount of time. We are proud to have received the 2013 HEED award and we look forward to continuing our efforts,” said Dr. Shanda Gore, UT’s chief diversity officer.

“We hope the HEED award serves as a way to honor those institutions of higher education that recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion as part of their everyday campus culture,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.