Do you have or know of an amazing program, faculty member, emerging leader, student or other entity in professional, continuing and online education that should be recognized? Nominate them (or yourself or your program) for an award!
This year’s award nomination process has been streamlined, so it’s easier than ever to celebrate the amazing work we all do.
We know there are many special and deserving activities and individuals within our institutions, so please take a few moments to review them and consider submitting a nomination.
Regional winners will be eligible to participate in UPCEA's national award program in 2022.
Award Categories for 2022:
Nomination Checklist:
• Current résumé or CV of the nominee
• Letters of support from colleagues and/or students
• Other materials that support the nomination, such as publications
CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA FOR THE 2022 UPCEA SOUTH AWARDS
I. Outstanding Service to Professional, Continuing, and Online Education
For an individual who has at least ten years of service in college/university professional, continuing and online education and is / or has been a staff member of a UPCEA South institution during the past two years.
Criteria:
Contributed substantially to the development and maintenance of their institution and UPCEA South
Demonstrated service which has been recognized and valued by their institution and UPCEA South
II. Emerging Professional, Continuing and Online Education Leader
For a university professional, continuing and online education professional with less than five years of experience who has made an outstanding contribution to their organization, UPCEA, and/or the profession as a whole.
Criteria:
Individual has demonstrated such leadership qualities as clarity of vision, courageous decision making, promotion of values and ethics, political acumen, and/or savvy and persistence (please cite specific examples of how these traits were demonstrated)
Individual might not play a high-level leadership role in his/her organization, but should be a “rising star” who has made a contribution of significant impact
III. Professional, Continuing and Online Educator Award
For a professional member of UPCEA South who has been employed in college/university professional, continuing and online education for at least the last five years.
Criteria:
Demonstrated leadership through innovative program development in continuing higher education
and/or
Distinguished scholarship and notable applied research through outstanding programs, teaching and/or publication
IV. Program of Excellence-Credit
For a program that makes an impact at the nominating institution in a unique manner.
Criteria:
Exemplified the best in instructional design and effectiveness in meeting an educational need, while attaining/surpassing the program’s goals
Must have been offered during the last two years
Nomination must include a statement explaining accomplishment of program goals and a brief program evaluation
V. Program of Excellence-Noncredit
For a program that makes an impact at the nominating institution in a unique manner.
Criteria:
Exemplified the best in instructional design and effectiveness in meeting an educational need, while attaining/surpassing the program’s goals
Must have been offered during the last two years
Nomination must include a statement explaining accomplishment of program goals and a brief program evaluation
VI. Programs for Special Populations
For a program that identifies and targets specific groups with unique needs such as (but not limited to) the elderly, young, rural, military, urban, minorities, and disabled.
Criteria:
Must demonstrate/explain the need for developing the program
Program must have completed at least one cycle within last two years
VII. Research and Scholarship Award
For an individual (or group of individuals) who 1) has conducted new research with implications for professional practice in the field of professional, continuing and online higher education, or 2) is an individual UPCEA member whose long-term commitment to the conduct of exemplary research has made a contribution to the literature and professional practice in the field of professional, continuing and online higher education.
Criteria:
A. Research Project:
The nominated project will have excelled in the following areas:
Research findings have strong potential to improve professional practice in the field of professional, continuing and online higher education
The research project was informed by and builds upon existing literature
B. Individual Researcher:
The nominee will have excelled in the following areas:
Produced writings and generated research findings, consistent with the criteria stated above for a research project
Encouraged and enabled graduate students and professional staff to become actively involved in research for the field
Continuously and proactively sought to encourage the implementation of research findings in the practice of professional, continuing and online higher education
VIII. Professional, Continuing and Online Education Instruction Award
For an instructional member at a UPCEA South member institution who has assisted the field of professional, continuing and online education in an exemplary manner (credit and noncredit in the same category).
Criteria:
Served as an excellent teacher to professional, continuing and online education learners
Developed and/or coordinated model professional, continuing and online education programs
Facilitated new programming areas through professional, continuing and online education
Opened new avenues for the advancement of professional, continuing and online education learners
IX. Professional, Continuing and Online Education Student Award
For an individual who has shown exemplary determination against difficult odds and with academic excellence as a professional, continuing and online education student during the previous year (separate credit and noncredit categories).
Criteria:
Graduated or completed a professional, continuing or online program at a UPCEA member institution within the past academic year
Managed multiple/significant commitments and responsibilities effectively while engaged in their education
Possessed an unconventional educational background whose achievement of excellence in the pursuit of their education is inspirational
X. UPCEA South Region Engagement Award
This award highlights the outreach and engagement work of UPCEA members and UPCEA’s brand name. The partnership must be comprised of a college/university and at least one external partner organization. Awarded to both the UPCEA member institution/unit and the partner organization(s).
Criteria:
Nomination must highlight the partnership’s specific outreach/engagement goals and accomplishments
Documentation of the tangible and sustainable impact of the partnership’s outreach/engagement activities on strategic initiatives, citizens, communities, or business and industry (provide context for evidence provided by including relevant information about the environment in which the program takes place)
Thank you for taking the time to recognize such deserving students, faculty and staff. Their success is a reflection on the good work we do in professional, continuing, and online education. We look forward to receiving your nominations and supporting information.