Colorado College is celebrating a national recognition for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

For the first time, the college received “Insight Into Diversity” magazine’s annual Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award. Colorado College will feature in the magazine’s November/December 2023 issue, according to a new release. CC is one of two institutions in Colorado to receive the award this year and one of 102 American colleges and universities in total.

“Insight Into Diversity” highlighted CC’s “robust” antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and noted a number of recent accomplishments in that area. CC became the first college in the country to make an antiracism commitment in 2019, launched the Stroud Scholars program to create academic pathways for high-promise and underrepresented high school students, began a transfer program for students in states with anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) legislation and issued a statewide pledge to offer varying levels of support for families making less than $250,000 a year, among other notable initiatives.

“We are honored to be recognized with this prestigious award, the only one of its kind in the country,” Colorado College President L. Song Richardson said in the release. “At a time when we are seeing a problematic rolling back of important civil rights gains, preparing our students to create a more equitable and just society will take continued courage and commitment. I’m proud of our students, staff, faculty, and (anti-DEI) leadership team for their dedication to this important work.”

The HEED Award uses a “comprehensive and rigorous application” that inquires about recruitment and retention of students and employees, leadership support for diversity efforts, campus culture, climate and demographics. About 9.5% of CC students are first generation, 13.1% are Pell Grant-eligible, and 26% have a disability.

CC also highlighted its expanding Butler Center, named in honor of one of the earliest Black alumni and serving as the student center for DEI. The center in September added the Queer and Trans Collective, which offers resources and community for the LGBTQ+ campus community.

“We take a detailed approach to reviewing each application in deciding who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” “Insight Into Diversity” Publisher Lenore Pearlstein said in the release. “Our standards are high, and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”