University of Houston Law Center receives national diversity award three years in a row

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Sep 13, 2018, 18:09 ET

HOUSTON, Sept. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "INSIGHT Into Diversity" magazine has honored the University of Houston Law Center for the third consecutive year with its Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award in recognition of the school's efforts to increase minority representation on campus and in the legal profession.

UHLC is the only U.S. law school to be selected for the 2018 HEED Award, which is the only national, application-based award honoring institutions of higher education for their commitment to diversity and inclusion. The Law Center received HEED awards in 2017 and 2016.

"I am humbled and honored that the Law Center has won the HEED Award three years in a row and to be the only law school in the nation to be recognized in 2018," said Dean Leonard M. Baynes. "It is a wonderful recognition and appreciation for all the hard work that goes into making the Law Center a more diverse and inclusive place.

"Many thanks go to Professor Meredith Duncan and Program Manager Kristen Guiseppi in running the UHLC Pre-Law Pipeline Program as well as so many of our faculty and staff who show their commitment to diversity and inclusion every single day. Without their collective efforts, this recognition would not be possible."

HEED Award recipients are selected on the basis of an extensive application, detailing demographics of the faculty and student body, recruitment practices, mentoring and resource programs, community outreach, and other efforts designed to increase diversity.

"The Law Center is proud to receive this award for the third time," said Duncan, George Butler Research Professor of Law and director of Metropolitan Programs. "We value and work hard at addressing diversity issues in legal education and in the legal profession. It is wonderful to see that our efforts are being recognized nationally."

The Law Center's award-winning Pre-Law Pipeline Program was among initiatives cited by the magazine. The program prepares undergraduates who are first generation, low income, or members of groups underrepresented in the legal profession for a career in law.

"It is an absolute honor for us to be recognized by "INSIGHT Into Diversity" magazine," said Guiseppi. "We are proud of our diversity-focused initiatives, like the Pipeline Program, Pathways to Law, Juvenile Capital Access Project, Street Law and many other efforts which serve to address the need for diversity and inclusion."

In its July/August cover story, the magazine featured the Pre-Law Pipeline Program as a model of law school efforts to diversify the legal profession. It also noted the Law Center's student body with 36.4 percent people of color exceeds the national minority law school enrollment of 31.4 percent.

"Our standards are high," Lenore Pearlstein, publisher of "INSIGHT Into Diversity" magazine, said in announcing the award, "and we look for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into the work being accomplished every day across their campus."

Media contacts: Carrie Anna Criado, UH Law Center Assistant Dean of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-2184, [email protected]; Elena Hawthorne, Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing, 713-743-1125, [email protected]; John T. Kling, Communications Manager, 713-743-8298, [email protected]; John Brannen, Senior Writer, 713-743-3055, [email protected]; and Lisa Lane, Program Manager II, 713-743-2259, [email protected]

About the University of Houston

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 45,000 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.

About the University of Houston Law Center

The University of Houston Law Center (UHLC) is a dynamic, top tier law school located in the nation's 4^th largest city. UHLC's Health Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Part-time programs rank in the U.S. News Top 10. It awards Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees, through its academic branch, the College of Law. The Law Center is more than just a law school. It is a powerful hub of intellectual activity with more than 11 centers and institutes which fuel its educational mission and national reputation. UHLC is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

SOURCE University of Houston Law Center