海角社区

2025

Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award

The Higher Education鈥疎xcellence鈥痑nd鈥疍istinction (HEED) Award, issued by 滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟鈥疘苍迟辞鈥疉肠补诲别尘颈补 (formerly Insight Into Diversity), is an annual national honor recognizing colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada that exhibit a sustained and comprehensive commitment to academic excellence, student and employee recruitment and retention, and community-building that ensures belonging and success for all.

Applications are thoroughly evaluated across multiple dimensions including leadership support, recruitment and retention practices, institutional policies and programs, campus climate, and community partnerships. The award remains open to baccalaureate-granting institutions across the U.S. and Canada.

The recent re-branding in 2025 reflects the change of the publication鈥檚 name from Insight Into Diversity to Insight Into Academia and the corresponding renaming of the award from 鈥淗igher Education Excellence in Diversity鈥� to 鈥淗igher Education Excellence and Distinction鈥�, while retaining its HEED acronym.

This is 海角社区’s 12th year receiving this awards since 2014.

2023

Seal of Excelencia

In 2023, 海角社区 earned the Seal of Excelencia, a prestigious three-year national certification awarded by Excelencia in Education to institutions that demonstrate an intentional, data-informed, and results-driven commitment to serving Latino students. Unlike the federal Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation, which is based primarily on enrollment numbers, the Seal of Excelencia recognizes colleges and universities that go beyond access to ensure genuine student success through measurable outcomes, strategic practices, and authentic leadership engagement.

The Seal of Excelencia is grounded in a framework built around three core pillars: data, practice, and leadership. Institutions must demonstrate strong performance and alignment across these areas, including enrollment, retention, transfer, financial support, representation of Latino faculty and staff, and degree completion. The certification affirms that 海角社区鈥檚 mission, policies, and practices are intentionally designed to advance Latino student success and create a learning environment where all students can thrive.

Earning the Seal signifies more than recognition. It reflects a long-standing commitment by 海角社区 to equity, access, and student achievement. The university鈥檚 efforts embody Excelencia鈥檚 vision to accelerate Latino student success in higher education and to close equity gaps through intentional, evidence-based action. With this three-year certification, 海角社区 joins a distinguished group of institutions nationwide that serve as models for transforming higher education to truly and intentionally SERVE Latino students while uplifting every member of their campus communities.

2024

CLLARO Alianza Award

In 2024, the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO) honored Metropolitan State University of Denver (海角社区) with its prestigious Alianza Award, the organization鈥檚 only institutional recognition. This award celebrates 海角社区鈥檚 enduring leadership, advocacy, and commitment to serving Colorado鈥檚 diverse communities, particularly its Latine population. The recognition highlights the University鈥檚 consistent efforts to create a campus environment rooted in equity, inclusion, and access for all students.听

The award also reflects 海角社区鈥檚 long-standing dedication to advancing educational opportunities for underrepresented groups. As a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), over one-third of the University鈥檚 student body identifies as Hispanic or Latinx. 海角社区 was among the first universities in the state to offer in-state tuition to undocumented students and established Colorado鈥檚 first Immigrant Services Program, providing crucial academic and personal support to immigrant and first-generation students. Through these initiatives, 海角社区 has become a statewide leader in equity-focused higher education and a model for how institutions can uplift and empower diverse communities.听

2024

Inaugural SUCCESS Award- The Dream.US

海角社区 was honored as one of just six institutions nationwide to receive the first-ever听SUCCESS Award听from TheDream.US, the Presidents鈥� Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and Immigrants Rising on March 29. This recognition celebrates colleges and universities that actively champion access and achievement for undocumented students on their campuses and in their communities.听

Representing 海角社区, General Counsel听David Fine, J.D., accepted the award alongside leaders from Bunker Hill Community College; The City University of New York; Dominican University; Florida International University; and the University of Houston.听

In their announcement, the partnering organizations praised 海角社区鈥檚听Immigrant Services Program, highlighting the team鈥檚 exceptional dedication, proactive support for undocumented and immigrant students, and success in securing additional resources to expand that work.听

2024

Leaders in Diversity Award

Metropolitan State University of Denver received another significant recognition for its dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, earning a听2024 Leaders in Diversity Award听from the Denver Business Journal. 海角社区 was one of 11 organizations celebrated during the June 20 ceremony, which also honored 10 individual DEI champions.听

The Denver Business Journal鈥檚 selection committee evaluated nominees from across the metro area, assessing their leadership, accomplishments, innovation and community impact in advancing DEI. The awards spotlight organizations and individuals who are actively pushing for greater equity across all dimensions of diversity including age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity and religion.听

Committee members specifically praised 海角社区 for its strong DEI commitment and for leading Colorado鈥檚 four-year public institutions in several key areas:听

• The听highest percentage of tenured/tenure-track faculty of color听(26.9%)听
• The听highest percentage of tenured/tenure-track Black faculty听(4%)听
• The听third-highest percentage of tenured/tenure-track Latinx faculty听(9%)听

2023

School of Hospitality honored for DEI values

The Metropolitan State University of Denver听School of Hospitality听was recognized as a recipient of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine鈥檚听2023 Inspiring Programs in Business Award. This national honor celebrates college programs that center diversity, equity and inclusion while offering strong support for students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing careers in business.听

Awardees are chosen for their meaningful work in motivating and preparing the next generation of business professionals through mentoring, teaching, research and impactful programs. The School of Hospitality will be highlighted in the April issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine alongside other 2023 honorees.听

This recognition adds to 海角社区鈥檚 longstanding record of excellence, as the University has received the听INSIGHT Into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award听for nine consecutive years. This award听opens to colleges and universities across the U.S. and Canada. It evaluates institutions on their commitment to expanding diversity and inclusion through campus initiatives, student recruitment and success strategies, and equitable hiring practices for faculty and staff.听

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2023

Fulbright HSI Leader

The U.S. Department of State recognizes Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) as Fulbright HSI Leaders to acknowledge their noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants and promotion of Fulbright program opportunities on campus in the previous year. The initiative encourages administrators, faculty and students at HSIs to engage with Fulbright and highlights the strength of HSIs as destinations for international students and scholars.听

HSIs serve approximately two-thirds of all Hispanic students in U.S. higher education. The Fulbright Program works closely with stakeholders, including the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), to promote international exchange opportunities to staff, students, and faculty at HSIs. The Fulbright Program takes concerted steps to ensure that participants have successful and rewarding experiences before, during, and after their exchanges.听

2021

HACU-Member Institution Award

海角社区 has been named the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities鈥� Outstanding HACU-Member Institution for 2021. The national award recognizes and honors extraordinary support of HACU鈥檚 mission and 海角社区鈥檚 important contributions to the educational success of underserved populations, particularly Latinx students. For 34 years, 海角社区 has been a supportive member of HACU, and accessibility, diversity and inclusion have been core tenets of the University鈥檚 mission since its inception. The University has hosted the HACU Emerging Leaders Summit, University staff have attended the annual Capitol Forum, and 海角社区 students have participated in HACU scholarship and internship programs.听

2020

Richard Guarasci Award for Institutional Transformation

In 2020, Campus Compact recognized 海角社区 with the for its demonstrated 鈥渆fforts to address issues of public concern by aligning teaching, research, practice, and values in service of the common good.鈥澨� More specifically, the university was granted the award 鈥渇or its comprehensive, institution-wide approach to planning for institutional change, which has included a Civic Action Plan, emerging assessment, connected efforts across departments, and clarity around institutional goals. As an urban land-grant institution, 海角社区 has committed to being an institution of the city, an integral, visible part of the communities within which it exists. 海角社区 demonstrates a clear and active commitment to strengthening its understanding of urban issues and to partnering with and serving its neighbor organizations in order to better meet the needs of the metropolitan area.鈥�听