School of Nursing earns national HEED Award for inclusive excellence

The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis has earned a national honor recognizing its efforts to create a learning environment where students, faculty and staff can succeed.

The school received a 2026 Higher Education Excellence and Distinction, or HEED, Award from Insight Into Academia magazine. The award recognizes colleges and universities for their commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community.

The recognition reflects the School of Nursing's ongoing efforts to build a culture where students, faculty and staff can learn, contribute and lead while feeling respected, supported and part of the community.

Inclusive excellence guides the school's work

Inclusive excellence is one of the School of Nursing's five core attributes, which guide its approach to education, research and community partnerships. Rather than treating inclusive excellence as a separate initiative, the school builds it into the student experience and the way faculty and staff work together.

"This recognition affirms something we believe deeply. Inclusive excellence is essential to academic excellence," said Piri Ackerman, associate dean for Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence. "When people know their perspectives matter and they have opportunities to succeed, they are better able to learn, contribute and lead. That ultimately prepares stronger health professionals and improves the care they provide."

That commitment, Ackerman said, is seen in several areas of the school's work:

• Student recruitment: The school has added more ways for prospective students to learn about its programs, including virtual and in-person information sessions, campus visits, one-on-one admissions guidance and community outreach across California. In addition, the Summer Health Institute for Nursing Exploration and Success, or SHINES, introduces students from underserved, rural and first-generation backgrounds to health careers and connects them with mentors, current students and alumni.
• Student success: The school offers academic coaching, peer- and alumni-led study groups, writing help, mentoring and preparation for licensure exams. Programs such as the Learning Performance Team and Online Learning Assistant program are designed to spot academic challenges early and connect students with help before those challenges become bigger barriers.
• Team Agreements: Faculty, staff and students use Team Agreements to set expectations for how they communicate, collaborate and work through challenges. The goal is simple: create teams where people know what is expected, feel comfortable contributing and can hold one another accountable.

A schoolwide effort earns national recognition

Insight Into Academia reviews each HEED Award application closely, looking not only at individual programs but also at how an institution's values show up in its day-to-day work.

"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, magazine co-publisher.

For the School of Nursing, the award recognizes work that reinforces a broader goal to prepare nurses, physician assistants and other health professionals who work well with others, lead effectively and provide better care for the communities they serve. This is the fourth HEED award received since 2021.