Winston-Salem State University News September 2018 WSSU receives national HEED Award for diversity Winston-Salem State University's (WSSU) has been recognized with the 2018 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine<http://www.insightintodiversity.com/>. WSSU is the only historically Black college and university (HBCU) to win the award, and one of only 96 recipients nationwide. WSSU will be featured in the November 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. "We are honored to be selected for this prestigious award, which is testament to the work our dedicated faculty and staff do every day to provide a welcoming environment for all Rams," said Elwood L. Robinson, WSSU's chancellor. "This award also affirms the success of the strategic plan, which is rooted in the principle of equity, providing the support needed for all our students to be successful." According to the magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, WSSU was selected for its exemplary diversity and inclusion initiatives and for embracing a broad concept of diversity on campus, including gender, ethnicity, veterans, people with disabilities and members of the LGBT community. The award was announced on Sept. 13. Over the past year, WSSU has: * Rolled out more than a dozen new technologies<https://www.wssu.edu/about/news/articles/2018/09/wssu-receives-national-heed-award-for-diversity.html> to help improve retention and graduation rates, and to help students, faculty and staff work smarter. This includes Winston - a text-based artificial intelligence virtual assist, a first at an HBCU - and RAMGuide a mobile advisor. * Expanded scholarship and funding support for students who need assistance that cannot be provided through financial aid. * Provided a path for qualified WSSU students to continue their education through assurance agreements<https://www.wssu.edu/about/news/articles/2017/12/recent-wssu-graduate-continues-education-in-doctor-of-physical-therapy-program.html> in the School of Health Sciences' highly-ranked Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and signature graduate programs in physical therapy and occupational therapy. * Developed and launched a weeklong series of Title IX student workshops and events under the theme "Netflix & Chill: Ram Conversations About Consent." * Introduced five new study abroad partnership programs<https://www.wssu.edu/about/news/articles/2018/07/new-programs-take-rams-abroad.html> to expose students to global perspectives. This includes a signature Afro-Cuban program. * Through $2.4 million federal grant funding<https://www.wssu.edu/about/news/articles/2018/03/wssus-graduate-programs-receive-2.4-million-boost.html>, began offering scholarships for African Americans and low-income students in six STEM and allied health graduate programs. The grant funded 38 graduate student fellowships during the spring semester. * Assisted additional faculty through a revamped Center for Innovative and Transformative Instruction (CITI)<https://www.wssu.edu/administration/faculty-and-staff/citi/index.html>. During the 2017-18 academic year, CITI hired two additional staff to support teaching, learning, and instructional technology and launched a new website, e-newsletter and blog. The HEED Award process includes a comprehensive application with questions relating to the recruitment and retention of students and employees, continued leadership support for diversity and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion, according to 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," Pearlstein said. "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." WSSU is one of six University of North Carolina System institutions to win the 2018 HEED Award. Other North Carolina recipients are: East Carolina University, UNC Greensboro, UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University and UNC Wilmington. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. The 8th HBCU Library Alliance Membership Meeting is scheduled at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library (GA) on Sunday through Tuesday, October 7-9. Click here<http://www.hbculibraries.org/meeting-2018-info.html> for registration and session details. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/