Framingham State University was founded as the nation’s first teacher’s college in 1839 on the belief that every citizen – regardless of race, class, or economic status – deserved the right to pursue an outstanding education.

Today, FSU continues to strive to live up to that ideal, and has been honored once again with a Higher Education Excellence and Distinction Award (HEED) from Insight into Academic Magazine, a national publication honoring institutions that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging, and community-building across all levels of campus life.

Framingham State was among 60 institutions to be honored across the country and the only member of the Massachusetts State University System. 

“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,” says Lenore Pearlstein, Co-Publisher of Insight into Academia magazine.

The publication specifically cited Framingham State for its mental health support on campus, increase in the diversity of the faculty and student body, and outreach efforts to diverse communities. 

“We want Framingham State to be a community where students don’t just fit in, they belong,” says Dr. Jeffrey Coleman, Framingham State’s Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement. “We value the unique contributions of every individual on this campus and recognize that the diversity of our community is what makes us exceptional.”