Augustana College has for the fifth time captured the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award from “INSIGHT into Diversity” magazine for the college’s outstanding commitment to diversity.
The 2024 HEED awards highlighted the Rock Island-based liberal arts institution’s continued commitment to creating a thriving diverse campus community, the publication formally known as the Affirmative Action Register (AAR) said.
Augustana is one of this year’s 114 honorees to be recognized in INSIGHT’s November/December issue, an Augustana College news release said.
“It is an honor to once again be recognized for the work we do at Augustana College in cultivating a rich, inclusive experience that fosters engagement and opportunity for all,” Gauri Pitale, Augustana’s vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), said in the release. “I am proud that Augustana continues to set the standard in responding to the evolving needs of our diverse community.”
This fall, Augustana enrolled 2,556 students, including 24% domestic students of color and 20% international students. Newly enrolled and transfer students this fall included students from 26 states and 33 countries. International students make up an unprecedented 25% of the Class of 2028, with the top represented countries being Ethiopia, Morocco, Nepal, Vietnam and Pakistan, the release said.
Ms. Pitale wrote the application for this year’s HEED application, sharing information about the college’s many inclusive initiatives and programs aimed at recruiting and retaining diverse students and faculty.
“From signature events like the Culture Houses Block Party and Shades of Beauty, to the daily efforts of supporting students’ academic and social needs, Augustana College continues to strengthen its commitment to creating an inclusive space for all,” Ms. Pitale added.
Augustana expanding efforts
She said beyond student programming and recruitment efforts, Augustana also is taking steps to increase the number of its diverse suppliers and taking other equity-focused initiatives.
In addition to diversity support, the college continues to provide financial support that opens doors for students, the release said, including 214 total Pell Grants awarded to newly enrolled students. Those federal grants are awarded to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
This is the second year the college has awarded Augustana Possible grants to high achieving students from families with financial need. The average Augustana Possible award is $7,551, helping qualifying students meet 100% of their demonstrated financial need.
Augustana’s Office for DEI was established in March of 2018 in response to increases in the number of enrolled students of color and international students. In 2017-2018, Augustana enrolled 2,640 students, including 20% domestic students of color and 7% international students.
Augustana President Andrea Talentino said in the release that the college is continuing to ensure the campus is a place that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds.
“It’s exciting to be recognized for this award,” Ms. Talentino added. “We’re especially proud of the rich cultural diversity in our student body and our focus on accessibility for domestic and international students. We will continue to build upon our successes and keep Augustana at the forefront of diversity efforts.”
For more information about the 2024 HEED Award, visit insightintodivesity.com.
