The Manship School of Mass Communication was presented with the first ever National Diversity and Equity Award on Thursday by Carol Pardun, president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.The award highlights some of the Manship School’s diversity initiatives. It recognizes the commitment faculty and administrators make to promote diversity and equity, Pardun said.The Manship School is receiving the honor because of all of its programs and practices, not one program in particular, Pardun said.Dean of the Manship School John Hamilton said at the presentation the school was being recognized for its diversity plan, the fundraising it has done and its faculty research on diversity.Pardun said the award was developed because members of AEJMC felt the organization needed to make a more explicit effort to acknowledge diversity. The Manship School is the first school to receive it.”It really sets the bar high for others,” Pardun said.Pardun said she believes this award will provide insight and motivation for other schools to emulate the University and the Manship School in its efforts to promote diversity and equality. The Manship School sets a model for what equity and diversity initiatives can be, she said.The school constantly pushes the envelope and thinks outside the box to reach creative solutions, which merits recognition, Pardun said.Ralph Izard, mass communication professor, said the award shows the level of respect the Manship School has earned from schools across the country.”Getting this award affirms that the Manship School really understands its responsibility to its students,” Izard said.He said he would like to see the community reach a point where diversity is the norm, not something extraordinary to be recognized.This is the second of two presentation ceremonies. The award was first presented to the Manship School at the organization’s annual convention in Boston in August 2009. AEJMC, the member-driven organization presenting the award, consists of nearly 4,000 people — mostly mass communication professors and people in the industry. Pardun said she loves the organization because of the enthusiasm of its members.”I feel quite privileged not only to lead, but to be a part of such an organization,” Pardun said.Hamilton said he believes the award is less important than the diversity it promotes. He said the school still has room to improve, and he looks forward to receiving the award again in the future.”It’s always good to be recognized for having done something well,” Hamilton said.- – – -Contact Rachel Warren at [email protected]