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For the fifth time, Raritan Valley Community College has been honored with the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

As a recipient of the 2018 HEED Award — a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion — RVCC will be featured, along with 95 other recipients, in the November issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RVCC is the only New Jersey college or university to be honored this year. The College also was honored with the HEED Award for its diversity efforts in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017.

“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 — 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 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 accomplished every day across their campus.”

RVCC’s Office of Multicultural Affairs provides diversity programs annually to 5,000 students, faculty, staff and community members through the Heritage Series of lectures and cultural programs. These include the Kente Ceremony, Diversity Fair, MLK Community Partner Breakfast, and Cultural Shock.

Some of the College’s many community outreach and co-curriculum programs related to diversity initiatives include:

• Paul Robeson Institute for Leadership, Ethics and Social Justice and its 27-year-old Paul Robeson Youth Achievement Award program, which celebrates African American middle and high school scholars.
• Malcolm Bernard Historically Black Colleges and Universities College and Transfer Fair, which serves 1,300 NJ high school students.
• CRECER program, which helps to prepare Latino high school students for transition to college and offers career readiness exploration.
• From Boys to Men Conference, a partnership with the New Brunswick (NJ) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., which empowers Black and Latino high school students to become lifelong learners and to increase civic engagement.
• Girls to Women Conference, a partnership with the Raritan Valley section of the National Council of Negro Women.
• One Book Program, which encourages the campus community to read The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. One Book is a yearlong project featuring book discussions, panels and other programs.
• Diversity Podcast, which offers an online resource of noted presentations and speakers for the community.
• Scholarship and Transformative Education in Prisons (STEP), which enables students, especially in underserved communities, to earn an Associate Degree.
• Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, which offers an annual Learning Through Experience Program educating thousands of area middle school and high school students about the dangers of bigotry and hatred.
• Sister to Sister and Brothers Helping Brothers Network, which provides a supportive environment to improve academic success, student satisfaction, retention and graduation rates for students of color through a wide range of services.

The College also has a number of diverse student clubs and organizations including the Alliance, Association of Black Faculty and Staff, Black Student Alliance, Diversity Council, International Student Association, Orgullo Latino, Filipino P.E.A.C.E. Club, Muslim Student Association, United Caribbean Students, English as a Second Language Club, African Students Association, and the RVCC Women’s Center.

For more information about the 2018 HEED Award, visit www.insightintodiversity.com.

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine is the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education today and is known for its annual HEED Award, the only award recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding diversity and inclusion efforts across their campuses. In addition to its online job board, INSIGHT Into Diversity presents timely, thought-provoking news and feature stories on matters of diversity and inclusion across higher education and beyond. Articles include interviews with innovators and experts, as well as profiles of best practices and exemplary programs. Readers will also discover career opportunities that connect job seekers with institutions and businesses that embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce. Current, archived, and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine are available online at www.insightintodiversity.com.

Ranked by BestColleges.com, WalletHub.com, and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute and 3M Observatory; a 1,000-seat Theatre offering professional performances for all ages; and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, professional development, and adult and youth personal enrichment courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 20, 2018

Media contact: Donna Stolzer, 908-526-1200, ext. 8383

PR #28