“This recognition reaffirms SRJC's commitment to cultivate an institutional culture where equitable student outcomes are a reality, “said Dr. Angelica Garcia, SRJC Superintendent/President. “As we celebrate this achievement, we remain steadfast in our work to remove the institutional barriers, often found in policies, processes, and procedures, for student success and completion.”

Insight Into Diversity magazine selected SRJC because of its demonstrated commitment to driving impact and change. This commitment can be seen in the following areas at SRJC:

• Establishment of IDEAA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti Racism, and Accessibility) of Institutional and Workplace Culture Initiatives as one of SRJC’s four key institutional priorities for the 2024-2025 academic year. SRJC is committed to creating a safe, healthy, and supportive learning and working environment for students and employees.
• Launch of the IDEAA Taskforce – a District-Wide advisory group focused on enhancing the District’s commitment to IDEAA, establishing engagement models, and centering the experiences of students to cultivate a community of belonging that is just, equitable, in queer solidarity, and centers racial justice.  
• Building initiatives and programs that enhance of SRJC’s decade-long Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation
• Use of disaggregated data in student learning outcomes assessment
• Implementation of the SRJC Courageous Leaders Academy (CLA) - a collaborative effort between the Employee Affinity Group representatives and the Embracing a Culture of Inclusion (ECI) Program.

“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 magazine. “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.”

Other recipients of the 2024 HEED Award are:

Undergraduate Institutions
Adelphi University
Agnes Scott College
Arkansas State University
Augustana College (IL)
Ball State University
Bentley University
Binghamton University (SUNY)
Brown University
Cal State, LA
California State University, San Marcos
California State University, Fresno
Carnegie Mellon University
Clemson University
Columbia University in the City of New York
Cornell University
DePaul University
Drake University
Drexel University
Elon University
Emory University
Farmingdale State College
Framingham State University
Franklin and Marshall College
George Mason University
Gonzaga University
Governors State University
Hope College
Indiana University
Indiana University, Indianapolis
Johns Hopkins University
Kansas State University
Kent State University
Lasell University
Lawrence University
Lehigh University
Loyola Marymount University
Maryville University
McDaniel College
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Miami University
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Mississippi State University
Mount Holyoke College
Nazareth University
Northern Illinois University
Ohio University
Oklahoma State University
Portland State University
Regis College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rowan University
Saint Louis University
San Diego State University
Santa Clara University
Smith College
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville
Stetson University
Stony Brook University
Suffolk University
SUNY Old Westbury
SUNY Oneonta
Swarthmore College
Temple University
Texas Christian University
The Colorado College
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Towson University
Trinity College
Tulane University
UC Merced
UNC Charlotte
University at Albany, State University of New York
University of California, Berkeley
University of Central Florida
University of Cincinnati
University of Georgia
University of Louisville
University of Lynchburg
University of Massachusetts, Boston
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of Missouri-St. Louis
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Western Illinois University
Whitman College

Law & Graduate Schools
Adler University
Indiana University Indianapolis Graduate School
New York University Silver School of Social Work
Pacific University College of Business
South Texas College of Law Houston
UC Davis School of Law
University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
University of Maryland - The Graduate School

Community Colleges
Anne Arundel Community College
Community College of Aurora
Connecticut State Community College
Cuyahoga Community College
Essex County College
Germanna Community College
Greenville Technical College
Hudson County Community College
Joliet Junior College
Long Beach City College
Moraine Valley Community College
Pikes Peak State College
Rock Valley College
Rockland Community College
William Rainey Harper College