Rainbow Scholars Program Named NASPA Program of the Year
Bentley University's Rainbow Scholars program has been awarded Region I Program of the Year for the state of Massachusetts by NASPA, or the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. The program, which celebrated its inaugural class last summer, is a yearlong intersectional leadership development program for LGBTQ+ and allied undergraduate students that offers a comprehensive and holistic approach to supporting their personal and leadership development skills within the context of a diverse and complex world. Built out of a collaborative effort between the Gender and Sexuality Student Programs (GSSP) Office and the Center for Women and Business (CWB), this program is part of the university’s commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive campus community—a core focus of Bentley's Falcons Forward 2030 strategic plan.
The award is presented annually by NASPA to an outstanding program or event at an institution from Region I. To be considered, programs must have been implemented and evaluated within the previous three years and must meet critical student needs and/or campus needs. In addition, the program must be relevant to the institutional mission and/or advancement of student affairs profession, address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, have an impact on student learning or success and be collaborative with academic and other departments. As a final requirement, the program must be sustainable.
Nana Adu, assistant director, gender and sexuality student programs in the Gender and Sexuality Student Programs Office, and Dominique Wilburn, director of programs and communications in Bentley’s Center for Women and Business, received the award on behalf of Bentley in a ceremony in November. Adu and Wilburn's creation and leadership of the Rainbow Scholars program was praised in the HEED Award summary.
"Receiving the award for Program of the Year for the state of Massachusetts is a tremendous honor," said Wilburn. "It serves as a testament to the university's commitment to innovation, cross-departmental collaboration and the advancement of diversity, equity and inclusion. Thanks to the continued support from our alumni and partners, both internal and external, we are proud to have this program recognized for its positive impact on student learning and campus culture."
In addition to its Region I Program of the Year designation, the Rainbow Scholars Program also placed in the bronze category for NASPA’s national excellence awards in the “Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice and related” category. This designation recognizes programs that are transforming higher education through innovative approaches to supporting underserved and marginalized communities, addressing the varied aspects and dimensions of diversity on campus, and challenging and changing cultural norms on campus. Representatives from Bentley will accept the award in March at the NASPA conference in Seattle.
"The recognition of the Rainbow Scholars Program as a bronze excellence award winner for equity, inclusion, social justice and related speaks to the program's innovation and depth in supporting our marginalized communities here on Bentley's campus," says Adu. "The impact of the Scholars goes beyond their work in the program – it reaches the rest of campus as part of the larger mission to expand diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Bentley."
This the latest recognition that Bentley has received for its student programming; other recent awards include the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion and top marks from the Campus Pride Index to recognize the university as an LGBTQ+ inclusive community.
"Students speak to the program being the supportive, embracing, and empowering community that they need at college, providing a sense of belonging and connection," says Andrew Shephardson, Vice President of Student Affairs. "It has been made all that more powerful in the collaboration between Gender and Sexuality Student Programs (GSSP) Office and the Center for Women and Business (CWB), as it has helped to create additional opportunities throughout the university, breaking down more silos and creating more connections between staff, faculty, administrators, and students, ultimately resulting in a more cohesive, collaborative university environment."