Demonstrating an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion
The University of Missouri–St. Louis takes pride in being one of the most diverse universities in the state of Missouri and we are committed to building inclusive excellence not just on our campus, but throughout our region.
This week, INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine recognized our ongoing efforts by naming UMSL one of 101 recipients of its prestigious 2021 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award – a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.
This marks the second year in a row and fifth time overall that UMSL has received the honor after previously being recognized in 2013, 2014 and 2015. It’s also worth noting that UMSL was the only university in Missouri to be included in this year’s list of awardees.
The publication also named two of our programs as Inspiring Programs in STEM. The UMSL College of Optometry was recognized for its newly launched Eyes on Diversity summer program, which builds awareness of and interest in optometry as a career option for underrepresented high school students.
The Collaborative Laboratory Internships and Mentoring Blueprint – or CLIMB for short – was recognized for its efforts to pair high-ability but low-opportunity high school students with researchers in chemistry, biology, psychology, computer science and economics to learn technical skills and research know-how through paid internships.
Last week, Patricia Parker, the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor in Zoological Studies, received a Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Award from North County Inc. for her role in establishing the CLIMB program among other initiatives to enhance DEI in the region.
UMSL’s commitment to inclusion isn’t only evident in these programs. It’s at the core of our mission to create access and opportunity for students, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, to pursue higher education and transform their futures. Last week, U.S. News and World Report once again ranked UMSL in the top 100 on its list of Top Performers on Social Mobility. This measure highlights how well universities have graduated students who received federal Pell Grants, thereby improving their socioeconomic potential.
With inclusion as our guiding principle, UMSL will continue to be a university that rises up St. Louis and beyond.
Gratefully forward,
Kristin
The core of our mission to create access and opportunity for students, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, to pursue higher education and transform their futures
