DENTON (UNT), Texas - The University of North Texas has been recognized once again for its dedication to diversity and inclusion.

UNT has earned the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for the fifth straight year. This honor is given by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine to colleges and universities in the U.S. that are committed to cultivating a more inclusive and diverse campus environment.

In the past year, UNT has continued to expand its efforts to support its diverse community, most recently joining 19 other universities as a founding member of the Alliance of Hispanic Research Universities — a group formed to increase opportunities for those historically underserved by higher education, naming Teresa R. McKinney as the new assistant vice president and director for diversity and inclusion and naming Pam Padilla ­— whose previous work largely focused on recruiting minority students into STEM fields — as the new vice president of research and innovation.

“We are thrilled to have UNT’s DEI initiatives and best practices recognized with the HEED Award for the fifth consecutive year,” said Joanne G. Woodard, vice president for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access at UNT. “We continue to move forward with our demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion. This speaks to the dedication of our entire university community toward making UNT even better for the diverse employees and students who work and learn here.”

UNT has made it a priority to engage its community members in programs that continue to promote inclusion on campus. Through the Division of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (IDEA), there are numerous initiatives that make UNT a welcoming community, including: 

• The annual Equity and Diversity Conference, which brings together students, faculty, professionals and thought leaders to discuss a range of topics in diversity, equity and inclusion. 
• Programs like OUTfits Clothing Closet and Lavender Leaders, that help create safe spaces for the LGBTQIA+ community. 
• Latin Dreams, a residential community focused on empowering Latinos through education, identity development and leadership growth.
• The Anti-Bias & Cultural Awareness Program, a series of training and seminars that gives faculty and staff resources to help provide an inclusive, affirming and equitable environment for the campus community.

As one of this year’s recipients, UNT will be featured alongside other winners in the magazine's upcoming issue.