University is a Six-Time Recipient of the Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award
Image by Henry Marte
09/11/2025
Media Contacts: David Joyner, senior director, communications and digital media, David_Joyner@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, assistant director of media relations, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu
LOWELL, Massachusetts – For the sixth time, UMass Lowell’s vibrant community has been honored with a Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Award from Insight Into Academia magazine.
The honor recognizes U.S. colleges and universities for their welcoming campuses and leadership in supporting student success and building community among students and employees. The magazine, which promotes best practices in higher education administration, also named UMass Lowell a HEED Award winner in 2015, 2016, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
“Creating a campus where everyone knows they belong and can do their best work is a cornerstone of our mission as a university. We are proud that Insight into Academia continues to recognize UMass Lowell for creating a culture of engagement as well as our emphasis on supporting students. These accolades inspire us to continue deepening our connections not just among students, faculty and staff on campus, but throughout the greater Lowell community,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Julie Chen.
UMass Lowell’s campus is a powerful driver of innovation, research, academic and institutional distinction. Students hail from all 50 U.S. states; in addition, there are 1,365 international students, representing 100 countries. Forty-eight percent of undergraduates identify themselves as from diverse backgrounds, 43% of undergraduates are first-generation college students and nearly a third identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. The university fosters a dynamic environment where a range of perspectives fuel creativity, learning and breakthrough thinking. Leadership across the university reflects this forward momentum, with women holding over half of all executive and director-level roles. This broad representation strengthens strategic decision-making and positions UMass Lowell to respond to complex global challenges with agility and vision.
In selecting UMass Lowell as a HEED Award honoree, Insight Into America evaluated the university’s academic excellence; commitment to student success; recruitment, hiring and retention practices; leadership; and campus climate, according to the publication.
“We take a detailed and somewhat holistic approach to reviewing each application in determining who will be named a HEED Award recipient. 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, said Lenore Pearlstein, the magazine’s co-publisher. For more information about the award, visit insightintoacademia.com.