The University of Colorado will be honored in June with the Overall Excellence in Diversity in Athletics Award.

CU graded out among the top five schools of the 12 that will receive the award. School representatives will accept the honor June 11 in Dallas, site of the National Asscociation of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Convention.

Winners were chosen based on responses from surveys mailed to the top six administrators at each institution, and only schools with two or more responses were included. Researchers also relied on U.S. Department of Education and Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act data.

"We are pleased to receive national recognition as a model athletic program for overall excellence in diversity," CU athletic director Mike Bohn. "This award is the result of tremendous support from the chancellor's office and the campus community who have embraced a heightened level of commitment to a broad number of diversity issues. It is gratifying to learn that others are witnessing our initiatives and saluting what is happening at CU-Boulder."

CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson echoed Bohn's statement.

"This award is a tribute to the close relationship we have fostered between our Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the faculty and students of CU-Boulder," said Peterson. "Working together closely, we are setting an example for other universities nationwide in fully incorporating diversity as a guiding value in both intercollegiate athletics and the academic life of the university."

The other Division I schools that will be recognized along with Colorado are Central Florida, Drexel, East Tennessee State, Kansas State, Long Beach State, Miami-Fla., San Jose State, Stanford, Ohio State, Texas-El Paso and Wright State.