Employee Diversity Program Wins Prestigious HR Award

Texas A&M University will receive the 2015 Texas Higher Education Human Resources Association (THEHRA) Innovation Award for its “Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (DIW) Certificate Program.”

The DIW is a workplace certificate program for Texas A&M employees who want to contribute to a positive work environment and increase their ability to work effectively with others in a diverse workplace, say university officials. The program considers diversity from a holistic perspective that includes differences in gender, race, sexual orientation, political and religious viewpoints, age, cultural identity, ability and personal characteristics.

Past honors for the innovative Texas A&M program have included the 2014 College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) HR Innovation Award, as well as the 2015 Texas A&M Diversity Service Team Award.

Texas A&M Vice President and Associate Provost for Diversity Christine A. Stanley cited the broad-based commitment to diversity that led to the university’s selection for the award.

“This award speaks to the commitment of the Division of Finance and Administration and the HR Employee & Organizational Development team to ensure that our staff are provided with educational development opportunities so that Texas A&M University is a place where staff can grow and thrive. I share in their excitement, and look forward to the sustainment of the Certificate Program for the future,” Stanley noted.

That assessment was underscored by Vice President for Finance and Administration Jerry Strawser.

“We are so very proud of the recognition received by our HR Employee & Organizational Development group,” Strawser said. “Their programs provide significant life-long learning and professional development opportunities that make Texas A&M University an employer of choice. In particular, the Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace certificate program plays an important role in ensuring that our university creates a welcoming and inclusive environment for all of our colleagues.”

Anne Mayer, director of HR Employee & Organizational Development and her team, will be presented the award at the THEHRA 2015 Summer Conference in Galveston on June 28-30.

“I am proud of the EOD team for creating a program that reaches beyond the classroom by requiring participants to engage in external activities outside their zones of familiarity’,” Mayer said. “This has been especially powerful in opening people’s eyes in ways that positively impact their attitudes and behavior in both the workplace and greater community.”

The award includes a plaque, listing on the THEHRC website, and a $500 donation to the institution to be used exclusively for future human resources professional development.

THEHRA’s main focus is working with its members to enhance the field of human resources in higher education and to maximize their largest assets – human resources, say organization officials.

The annual THEHRA Innovation Award is given to individuals or teams who improve the quality of programs and services on their own campuses through effective human resource administration practices. All 34 Texas state colleges and universities and their human resources professionals were eligible to nominate an individual or team for this award.

THEHRA was founded in 1975 and has a membership of more than 500 human resource professionals from over 34 colleges and universities across the state. THEHRA’s mission is to contribute to the professional advancement of human resources administration in state-supported senior colleges and universities in Texas. More information can be found at www.txhehra.org.

For more information about diversity efforts at Texas A&M, visit here.