For Immediate Release
Thursday, September 01, 2016

 Contact:        Maryjane Briant
                        News and Media Relations Director
                        Galloway, N.J. 08205
                        Maryjane.Briant@stockton.edu
                        (609) 652-4593
                        www.stockton.edu/media

 Galloway, N.J. - Stockton University today received the 2016 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 — Stockton University will be among those featured in the November 2016 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. 

“Stockton is extremely honored to receive this award recognizing the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, which are among the institution’s most cherished and deeply held principles,” said President Harvey Kesselman. “Since our founding, Stockton has always valued differences and promoted mutual respect, fairness, community outreach and the open exchange of ideas.” 

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine selected Stockton to be among 83 institutions honored nationwide, based on a number of factors, including successful efforts to increase the diversity of the faculty, staff and student population and to support provide academic, financial and cultural support for diverse students. One of the institution’s pillars is a commitment to global perspectives, including study abroad and bringing international students and faculty to campus.

Valerie Hayes, Stockton’s chief officer for Institutional Diversity and Equity, noted that diversity and inclusion is always a work in progress.  Stockton has increased the diversity of its administrative leadership team to 20 percent over the past five years, with 56 percent of those in leadership positions being women.  The university also has increased the racial and ethnic diversity of full-time non-tenured faculty and women full-time non-tenured faculty over the past five years by over 16 percent in each category and recognizes that there is additional work to do as additional measures have been put in place to continue to broaden and deepen the applicant pools.

Stockton has increased the number of women faculty in the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field by over 16 percent, as well as funding a STEM collaborative to enhance the pipeline to Stockton of talented STEM students, particularly students from traditionally underrepresented groups.

Over a five-year period, the diversity of full-time staff has increased by over 16 percent, with male and female-identified staff evenly split at 50 percent of the total. Stockton employed over 1,120 full-time faculty and staff in 2015-16, the most recent academic year for which figures are available.

“Under President Kesselman’s leadership, Stockton has strengthened its system of shared governance, which is perfect for diversity and inclusion work,” Hayes said.  Diversity goals are embedded into the university’s overall budget process, including campus-wide diversity incentive grants, scholarships and a diversity-themed alumni fundraising program, she noted.

“Additionally, there are two Affirmative Action Plans that address the inclusion of women, racial/ethnic minorities as defined by the Federal government, veterans and persons with disabilities in the Stockton’s workforce, lending support to our commitment as an Equal Opportunity Institution,” Hayes said.  “We have a Steering Committee comprised of faculty and staff who provide valuable assistance to the university in its ongoing efforts to ensure the campus is accessible.  We also have a long-standing Diversity Committee comprised of faculty, staff, and students who are involved in and support campus diversity and inclusion efforts, which include, but are not limited to addressing race, sex, and gender identity issues that surface on campus.”

Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, said, “The HEED Award process consists of a comprehensive and rigorous application that includes questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.

“We take a holistic approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient. 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 Pearlstein.

President Kesselman received the 2016 Giving Back Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity earlier this year, based on his outstanding demonstration of social responsibility, commitment to charitable services, and involvement with students, faculty and staff to serve underrepresented populations.

For more information about the 2016 HEED Award, visit www.insightintodiversity.com

About Stockton University

Stockton University, New Jersey’s Distinctive Public University, offers an outstanding interdisciplinary approach to graduate and undergraduate education in arts and sciences, professional studies, health sciences, and graduate and continuing studies. Stockton’s Galloway, N.J. main campus in the Pinelands National Reserve is close to southern New Jersey beach resorts and central to a region that is immersed in world class hospitality and tourism, aviation research and aerospace technology, and other exciting ventures that support and enhance economic development efforts in southeastern New Jersey. The campus is within easy driving distance of major metropolitan areas including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Stockton University, a premier regional educational institution, is ranked at #12 among the best public Regional Universities of the North by U.S. News and World Report and is one of The Princeton Review’s Best Northeastern Colleges.

About INSIGHT Into Diversity

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the largest and oldest diversity publication in higher education today and is known for its annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at www.insightintodiversity.        

 

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