Metropolitan State University of Denver continues to earn accolades for its unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This year alone, the University and its faculty and staff have received five awards for work promoting an inclusive community, fostering an appreciation of diverse perspectives and identities and establishing programs and policies that embrace and enhance equity and inclusion on campus:
- The SUCCESS Institutional Leadership Award from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, TheDream.US and Immigrants Rising recognized MSU Denver on the national stage for its leadership in serving and advocating for undocumented students.
- The Alianza Award is the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization’s only institutional honor. It recognizes the University for its enduring positive impact on Colorado’s diverse communities.
- MSU Denver also received the Denver Business Journal’s Leaders in Diversity award for accomplishments, leadership, innovations and impact on diverse local communities.
- The Colorado Association of Black Journalists named MSU Denver the Top Large University in 2024.
- Michael Benitez, Ph.D., vice president for Diversity and Inclusion, received the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Impact Practice Award from the Colorado Coalition for the Educational Advancement of Latinx (CoCEAL).
“Diversity is truly central to our mission, vision and academic values,” said Benitez. “This work doesn’t just live within my team; it is woven throughout the entire fabric of the University and our larger campus community.”
MSU Denver’s efforts stand in sharp contrast to recent developments across the country. Institutions of higher education in several other states face mounting pressure to dismantle or significantly reduce DEI programs. Legislation in these states has led to the elimination of DEI offices and the restructuring of diversity-related initiatives, marking a concerning trend in higher education.
The University also just marked its fifth year as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and has since been named a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader. MSU Denver in 2023 was also the first higher-education institution in Colorado to receive the Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education. Additionally, MSU Denver is a 10-time recipient of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award.
More than one-third of MSU Denver undergraduate students identify as Hispanic/Latinx.
These awards are a testament to the University’s transformative impact, preparing the next generation of leaders while fostering a community where diversity thrives.
