UMSON Receives Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for Seventh Consecutive Year

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has once again been recognized for its outstanding commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, earning the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for the seventh consecutive year. This prestigious award is the only national honor recognizing health schools and centers that excel in promoting diversity and inclusion on their campuses.

UMSON will be featured, along with 70 other higher education institutions, in the November/December 2024 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. 

“This year marks the seventh year of receiving the Health Professions HEED award. This year is special, as the recognition is a result of the collaborative efforts of the new staff in UMSON’s Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and of everyone’s hard work in creating an inclusive learning environment at the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” said Yvette Conyers, DNP, MS, RN, FNP-C, CTN-B, CFCN, CFCS, CNE, FADLN, CWNC-AP, assistant professor and associate dean for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). “In light of the political challenges related to EDI, we as a University and School stand committed to equity, and this award highlights its importance.”

The award recognizes U.S. health colleges and universities that demonstrate outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The application is open to all accredited U.S. and Canadian health profession schools, including medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary, and osteopathic medical schools. The HEED Award’s rigorous application process acknowledges an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment regarding broadening EDI on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff. 

UMSON’s initiatives, guided by its In UniSON anti-oppression position statement, focus on broadening EDI through programs, outreach, and recruitment of a diverse student body. More than 60% of UMSON students identify as racially and ethnically diverse, and 13% are male — both figures above the national average for nursing schools.

Equity and justice are one set of core values at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and UMSON works to integrate these values fully and authentically into all aspects of its work and community. UMSON’s Office of EDI offers individual and departmental support with a focus on relationship and community building and advocacy, efforts aimed at ensuring equity in policies and practices at all levels. It has developed activities, events, and affinity groups to engage faculty, staff, and students in thinking more broadly about diversity and in working toward a more inclusive community.

Highlights of UMSON’s ongoing EDI efforts include:

• strengthening relationships with student leaders to promote diversity efforts through the EDI Council, an elected body that encourages departments that encourages departments and units across UMSON to foster EDI as guiding principles, and the Restorative Justice program, which places UMSON at the forefront of fostering robust and healthy relationships across its campus and local communities
• supporting student-led organizations such as the Latinx Association of Nurses at the University of Maryland and the Black Student Nurses Association
• offering workshops focused on LGBTQ+ issues during Pride Month and training faculty and staff on anti-oppression practices
• organizing the Pathway to Nursing orientation program, designed to foster inclusivity and belonging among new students
• partnering with the Asian American/Pacific Islander Nurses Association for its 2023 Annual Conference, offering application fee waivers, and promoting UMSON programs as well as attending national conferences to recruit diverse students, including those hosted by the National Black Nurses Association and DNPs of Color
• hosting two documentary screenings along with panel discussions at each. In May, UMSON teamed up with the nursing schools at Coppin State, Johns Hopkins, and Morgan State universities for a screening of “Squeegee Kids: Understanding the Misunderstood.” In September, the EDI office and Office of Development and Alumni Relations presented a screening of “Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us.” Both films highlighted the need for inclusion and equity in underserved populations.
• hosting a Peace Vigil in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict, offering a space for reflection and community support
  This seventh consecutive HEED Award reflects UMSON’s dedication to integrating equity and justice into every aspect of its work, reaffirming its place as a leader in diversity within health professions.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.