Hope College received the 2026 Higher Education Excellence in Distinction (HEED) Award for the fifth year in a row — in the undergraduate institution category — from INSIGHT Into Academia magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
The HEED Award is a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that implement comprehensive
strategies to support excellence in student success, employee recruitment and retention,
and welcoming environments where everyone can achieve success. Hope College was among
just 40 undergraduate schools nationally to receive the award, and one of three in
Michigan. Award applications are evaluated across recruitment, retention, policy,
programs, leadership and more.
“We use a detailed scoring process and a holistic approach to reviewing each application to determine who will be named a HEED Award recipient,” said Lenore Pearlstein, co-publisher of Insight into Academia magazine. “Our standards are high and we look for institutions where academic excellence and belonging are woven into the work being done every day across their campus.”
The repeated recognition is a testament to the dedication of the entire Hope College community, said Dr. Sonja Trent-Brown, vice president for culture and inclusive excellence. “This honor reflects the daily, intentional work of our faculty, staff and students across campus. Together, we remain deeply committed to cultivating a kingdom vision of a beloved community—one where every student, staff and faculty member feels a true sense of belonging, understanding, grace and support to thrive and fulfill their calling.”
Elements contributing to receiving the 2026 HEED Award include the full menu of multicultural student organizations, and policies and practices across several departments such as: Human Resource, Campus Ministries, Admissions, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Student Support and Retention, Athletics, Boerigter Center for Calling and Career, Disability and Accessibility Resources, to name a few.
About INSIGHT Into Academia
INSIGHT Into Academia magazine reports on best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education.
Through print and online articles, INSIGHT Into Academia shares expert advice, valuable resources, in-depth profiles of top DEI programs at
colleges and universities, headline news, and more. The magazine established the
HEED Award in 2012, and it’s the only national honor to recognize institutions of
higher education for their outstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
More information about the 2026 HEED Award is available at insightintoacademia.com, where current, archived and digital issues of INSIGHT Into Academia magazine are also available.