Bentley Wins National Award for Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

Bentley University has received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The national honor was given by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. Bentley was one of 108 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the award. 

"We are deeply honored that Bentley University has been selected for this meaningful and significant recognition,” said Director of Diversity and Inclusion Patrick Couillard Hale. “This award represents a pivotal moment for our entire community, reaffirming our unwavering dedication to inclusive excellence. It is a testament to our ongoing efforts in shaping a campus culture that consistently embodies our core values and advances equity and inclusion to ensure access and opportunity for all."

Bentley was recognized for its extensive efforts to recruit and support historically underrepresented and first-generation students through programs including BentleyFirst, which gives eligible first-generation students the opportunity to attend Bentley for the same cost as tuition at UMASS Amherst; the MOSAIC Experience, a pre-orientation program for first-year students of color and their allies which allows students of color to move onto campus sooner to train and prepare them for academic success; and the Rainbow Scholars Program, a year-long leadership development program for LGBTQ+ and allied undergraduate students that empowers them to advocate for allyship and inclusion at Bentley. The university’s commitment to creating a diverse community and ensuring a sense of inclusion and equity across campus is a core focus of its Falcons Forward 2030 strategic plan.  

The Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award considers universities’ efforts related to the recruitment and retention of students and employees, support among leadership for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion. 

“We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”