Call for Nominations for Mid-Atlantic Regional Awards!

Nominations are due by July 29, 2022. 

Click here to view UPCEA Member-Curated Resources For Submitting Award Nominations

• This award recognizes the scholarship, leadership and contributions to the profession of a person who has entered the continuing, adult, and professional education field in the past five to ten years.
• The nominee must be a UPCEA member.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach supporting documents including:
• A statement indicating why the individual deserves nomination for the award.
• Current vita of the nominee.
• Four or more recommendations from colleagues who can attest to the nominee's qualifications.
• Any additional documentation to support nominee’s qualifications (e.g., description of awards received, achievements, supporting recommendations, etc.). Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• Nominee must be affiliated with a UPCEA member institution.
• Evidence of commitment to continuing, adult or professional education.
• Outstanding teaching and mentoring of students.
• Innovative course, program, and/or curriculum development.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach supporting documents:
• Narrative statement listing specific reasons why the nominee is worthy of this award.
• Current vita of nominee.
•  Two or more letters of support from informed individuals who can attest to the nominee's accomplishments. (e.g., dean/director of continuing education, program administrators, teaching colleagues, department chair, former students) 
• Any additional documentation to support nominee’s qualifications (e.g., description of awards received, achievements, courses taught, effectiveness of instruction, student evaluations summaries, supporting recommendations, etc.). Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• Individual will have given outstanding service to continuing education at his/her institution and service of major significance to UPCEA, or has fulfilled noteworthy assignments, written books of great significance to the field, or rendered long and distinguished administrative, legislative, or judicial services that have advanced the mission of continuing higher education.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach supporting documents:
• Narrative statement supporting why the nominee is worthy of this award.
• Current vita of the nominee.
• Two or more recommendations from colleagues who can attest to the nominee's qualifications.
• Additional documentation to support nominee’s qualifications (e.g., description of achievements, notable publications, service positions, supporting recommendations, etc.). Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• The nominee must be enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or non-credit program at a UPCEA member institution within the past 12 months, or have graduated no more than one year prior to the time the award is granted.
• The nominee must be an adult student who has met the challenge of an unconventional educational background and through individual growth accomplished in pursuit of his/her educational goals, became an inspiration to others.
• The nominee shall have effectively managed multiple/significant commitments and responsibilities while engaged in his/her education.
• The nominee must exemplify the best characteristics and standards of a student.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach supporting documents:
• Two or more letters of support from informed individuals; e.g., an academic department chair or faculty member; dean or director of continuing education; president or vice president of the nominee's institution.
• Written statement from the nominee describing his or her achievements with an emphasis on the challenges met while enrolled as a student
• Current vita or resume.
• Additional documentation (such as official transcripts, CEUs, student activities, university involvement, community contributions, employment, job performance, etc.) Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

The Mid-Atlantic region and UPCEA and its Commitment to Diversity and Inclusive Excellence encourages understanding, appreciation and the celebration of diversity, and the championing of equal access to education -- inclusive of all cultures, racial and ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, religious beliefs, and disabilities.

The Mid-Atlantic Leadership in Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award recognizes a program that represents best practices and demonstrates positive impact in promoting cultural shift in the organization that promotes diversity and inclusive excellence. This award will recognize outstanding accomplishment in one or more of the following areas: educational programs and services, administrative practice, workplace culture, community impact, regional economic development, or research. A key element is demonstrating innovative and systematic practices and measurable outcomes to advance the academic success, understanding, or quality of life of diverse perspectives and underrepresented groups. Examples of programs may include those that promote the educational success of diverse students, incorporate diversity and inclusive excellence in the curriculum and instruction, implement inclusive practices and awareness among faculty and/or staff, explore and remove institutional barriers and inequities, among others.

Nomination Criteria – Program

• At least one representative of the program must be an active member of UPCEA.

• The group or program exhibits and provides evidence of the criteria listed below:
• Supports an institutional commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence.
• Delivers a positive impact by promoting cultural shifts in the organization that promotes diversity and inclusive excellence.
• Represents an outstanding accomplishment in educational programs and services, administrative practice, workplace culture, community impact, regional economic development, and/or research.
• Embodies innovative and systematic practices to advance the academic success, understanding, or quality of life of diverse perspectives and groups.

Nomination Procedure – Program

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• A narrative statement of not more than three pages (not including attachments) that includes: an overview of the program including its goals and target audience; describes the assessment plan; evidence of program outcomes and sustained impact; program evaluation data (observing FERPA/HIPAA regulations); future benchmarks; and the organizational resources and/or commitment to the program. A support letter from the organization’s leadership is highly recommended.
  
  

Nomination Criteria – Individual

• The nominee must be an active member of UPCEA.
  
• The nominee exhibits and provides evidence of the criteria listed below:
  
  • Champions diversity and inclusive excellence within their institution.
    
  • Engages in regular activities which promote cultural shifts within the organization, promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.
    
• Recent career achievements represent outstanding accomplishment in educational programs and services administrative practice, workplace culture, community impact, and/or research.
  
• Proposes and advocates for innovative and systematic practices to advance the academic success, understanding, or quality of life of diverse perspectives and groups.
  

Nomination Procedure – Individual

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• A narrative statement of not more than three pages (excluding attachments) that includes an overview of the contributions made by the individual in terms of inclusive-excellence initiatives, impact, and advocacy work. Please attach artifacts which demonstrate impact, such as conference proceedings presented by the nominee, workshops developed by and/or delivered by the nominee, or publications authored by the nominee. A support letter from the organization’s leadership is highly recommended.

• The applied research is innovative within the continuing education or related fields.
• Research makes a contribution to adult/continuing education or related fields. Submission should suggest how research may be applied within the field.
• The research is informed by and builds upon existing literature.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)

• A narrative statement, detailing specific ways in which the nomination meets the criteria above. Please include a written summary of the research findings within the narrative.

• Attach supporting documents which may include: Research highlights, implementation of the research, and other items that will help depict the applied research project. Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• The nomination should include a discussion on how the partnership is innovative to the continuing education field, to the community, and/or to the institutions involved.
• The partnership should reflect how it contributes to the adult/continuing education field.
• The partnership should demonstrate how its outreach/engagement activities made a tangible and sustainable impact on strategic initiatives, citizens, communities, or business/industry.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach a narrative statement that describes the partnership and that addresses the criteria listed above.  Please provide the context around the partnership.
• Attach supporting documents which may include: Letters of support from partners and community constituents, links to articles written about partnership, evaluation data and analysis, engagement materials developed for project (brochures, web sites, videos, etc.), and other items that will help depict the engagement partnership.  Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• Program is innovative to the continuing education field and/or to the institution. For example, a program might incorporate new ideas, topics, technologies, instructional designs or methods, or delivery systems to make a faculty/staff development more accessible or effective.
• Program is within the adult/continuing education field.
• Program fulfills stated objectives. For reviewers to know this, program objectives and evaluation results must be outlined in submission.
• Program is cost-effective and time-efficient.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach a narrative statement that describes the program/project and that addresses the criteria listed above.
• Attach supporting documents which may include: Letters of support from participants, links to articles written about program, evaluation data and analysis, institutional materials developed for project (brochures, web sites, videos, etc.), and other items that will help depict the faculty/staff development program. Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• The program is original and innovative to the continuing education field and/or to the institution.
• The program must demonstrate a contribution to the field of continuing education and can be replicated by other higher education institutions.
• The program must show quality and effectiveness. A description of the program must include a statement explaining how the program objectives were met and a summary of the program evaluations should also be included.
• The program must be cost effective in a manner consistent with the stated program objectives.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach a narrative statement that describes the program and that addresses the criteria listed above.
• Attach supporting documents which may include: Program objectives, links to articles written about project/program, attendance data, budget, evaluation data and analysis, institutional materials developed for project (brochures, web sites, videos, etc.), and other items that will help depict the program. Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• The nomination should include a discussion on how the partnership is innovative to the continuing education field, to the community, and/or to the institutions involved.
• The partnership should reflect how it contributes to the adult/continuing education field.
• The partnership should beeffective in that it fulfilled stated objectives. For reviewers to know this, program objectives, evaluation criteria, and evaluation results must be outlined in submission.
• The partnership should be cost effective and time-efficient for the higher education institutions involved.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach a narrative statement that describes the partnership and that addresses the criteria listed above.  Please provide the context around the partnership.
• Attach supporting documents which may include: Letters of support from partners and community constituents, links to articles written about partnership, evaluation data and analysis, and other items that will help depict the partnership.  Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• The marketing initiative is innovative either to the continuing education field or to the institution.  For example, a submission might integrate new techniques to invigorate a campaign, or might be a new form of advertising for the institution.
• The marketing initiative is targeted to students or prospective students in adult, continuing, or professional education.
• The marketing initiative is successful and has fulfilled stated objectives. For reviewers to know this, program objectives, evaluation criteria, and evaluation results must be outlined in submission.
• The marketing initiative is cost-effective.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach a narrative statement that describes the marketing project and that addresses the criteria listed above.
• Attach supporting documents which can include: Examples of marketing materials, evaluation data and analysis, and other items that will help depict the marketing initiative. Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.

• The marketing initiative is innovative either to the continuing education field or to the institution.  For example, a submission might integrate new techniques to invigorate a campaign, or might be a new form of advertising for the institution.
• The marketing initiative is targeted to students or prospective students in adult, continuing, or professional education.
• The marketing initiative is successful and has fulfilled stated objectives. For reviewers to know this, program objectives, evaluation criteria, and evaluation results must be outlined in submission.
• The marketing initiative is cost-effective.

• Complete the nomination form. (You will need to log in with your UPCEA username)
• Attach a narrative statement that describes the marketing project and that addresses the criteria listed above.
• Attach supporting documents which can include: Links to the marketing materials, evaluation data and analysis, and other items that will help depict the marketing initiative. Additional documentation should not exceed 10 pages.