October 7, 2024 – Essex County College (ECC) is the recipient of the 2024 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine. The magazine is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
The annual HEED Award recognizes American colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. ECC was one of only 16 community colleges in the nation, and one of just two colleges/universities from New Jersey to earn this recognition.
“Essex County College is the only community college in New Jersey bearing the distinction of being both a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) and a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). I’m proud to say that diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of our mission and part of the fabric of who we are as an institution,” stated President Dr. Augustine A. Boakye. “Our ACCESS TO SUCCESS: Strategic Plan 2024-2029, and our inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan affirms this ongoing commitment to our students, faculty and staff.”
ECC was selected for the prestigious award by the magazine due to the institution’s impressive work in improving student outcomes through initiatives focused on student equity and providing students with a sense of belonging. Some of these initiatives included the development of a student Welcome Center, a redesign of the developmental education curriculum, and a comprehensive expansion of student wrap-around support services – all while rigorously assessing student learning to ensure their success.
In 2023, President Boakye formed the College’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, tasked with implementing the inaugural DEI Plan.
The sum of these initiatives has made a clear impact on student outcomes. Over the past four years under President Boakye, graduation rates for first-time, full-time African American students rose from 10.0% to 17.8%. During the same four-year period, graduation rates for first-time, full-time Hispanic students more than doubled from 7.3% to 16.1%.
“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 – leadership support for diversity, campus culture and climate, supplier diversity, and many other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of Insight Into Diversity.
“We take a detailed 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 done every day across their campus,” she stated.
