The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM) has been selected as one of 24 university colleges to receive a 2017 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
The HEED Award is the only national recognition honoring U.S. medical, dental, pharmacy, osteopathic, nursing, and allied health schools that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion on their campuses.
“This award for the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences is a true testament to the leadership, commitment, and accountability provided by administrators, faculty, staff, and students to make the college a welcoming, thriving, and inclusive place to all,” said Christine A. Stanley, professor of higher education, and former vice president and associate provost for diversity at Texas A&M University. “Awards such as these are not bestowed lightly, so when change is occurring, as well as evidenced, it communicates the values of an organization’s culture.”
The CVM is one of the only veterinary colleges in America to dedicate an associate dean to diversity for the college. The college also offers inclusive climate trainings for mediation certification, suicide prevention, dealing with difficult people, speaking out against injustice, and to become an Aggie Ally.
College Of Veterinary Medicine Ranked No. 1 In The SEC, No. 4 In The Nation, No. 10 Worldwide
“We are honored to receive this award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine,” said Dr. Eleanor Green, the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University. “Our faculty, staff, administrators, and students spend many hours discussing and affirming the importance of working and learning in inclusive environments. There is always work to be done, we know that, so everyday we are focused on our ambitious intentions to create welcoming environments for everyone. We are moving forward to create a culture of encouragement and trust.”
Recruitment and retention of outstanding undergraduate research minority (URM) students can be seen in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program and in undergraduate and graduate programs through the development of memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with colleges and universities across the state. These programs are designed to promote inclusion and core curricular content.
The CVM also has strong student and college organizations dedicated to supporting a welcoming learning environment. These include the Council on Diversity and Professionalism (CDP), a committee that includes undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff, as well as a group of elected representatives from each veterinary class that works to promote an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment in the college; VOICE (Veterinary Students One in Culture and Ethnicity), a student-run organization that addresses socio-cultural awareness among veterinary students, faculty, and staff; and Broad Spectrum, which works to connect, support, and empower LGBTQ+ veterinary students and allies.
As a recipient of the Health Professions HEED Award, the CVM will be featured in the December 2017 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine.
INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
“The Health Professions 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—continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion,” said Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “We take a holistic 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 accomplished every day across their campus.”
