UPCEA Central Region -
Celebration of Excellence Program
PURPOSE OF THE AWARDS
The UPCEA Central Region Celebration of Excellence Program is designed to serve three major purposes: (1) To provide recognition to individuals who have originated new and successful programs, or who have made a major contribution to the field of professional, continuing and online education; (2) to provide recognition to creative and innovative credit and noncredit programs in the field; and (3) to communicate ideas regarding successful programs among the member institutions.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to receive an award, the nominated individual or department must be part of an institution that is a current member of the UPCEA Central Region.
Each nomination must include a completed nomination form and written narrative addressing the nominee’s accomplishments in meeting the award criteria.
The UPCEA Central Region awards committee encourages all award recipients to attend the SUPER 2019: UPCEA Central & West Regional Conference. In the event the recipient is unable to attend the conference, the individual or their institution should be prepared to provide a video of the acceptance comments.
2019 AWARD CATEGORIES:
* Denotes category that serves as a pathway to a national UPCEA Association Award nomination.
DEADLINE HAS PASSED. Thank you for your submissions.
All award nominations and documentation must be submitted by Monday, July 1, 2019.
Click here to view UPCEA Member-Curated Resources For Submitting Award Nominations
Learn more about the 2018 Central Region Award Recipients
CATEGORY 1: Outstanding Credit Program Award
This award recognizes an outstanding credit program offered by a Central Region member institution. Nominations are open for new and mature credit programs which have completed at least one cycle and have been offered within the last two years. Priority consideration will be given to programs that deal with social, diversity or educational issues.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Cost Effectiveness: The program must be cost effective for the institution in a manner consistent with the stated program objectives.
- Longevity: The program must have completed at least one cycle to be considered.
- Innovation: The extent to which the program uses creative ideas in one or more areas or applies ideas in new ways, especially electronic modalities.
- Diversity: The program is intended to serve underserved populations.
- Quality: The extent to which the program has fulfilled objectives. Nomination narrative should include stated objectives, an estimate of success, and evaluation results.
- Contribution to professional, continuing and online education: The extent to which a program makes an ongoing and significant contribution to the field or can be replicated in other settings and institutions.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the program meets the award criteria and showcases the innovative nature of the program offering and the way in which the program meets social, diversity or educational needs.
- Three supporting documents which may include letters of support or commendation for the program, letters from students of the program, letters from administrators describing the contribution of the program to institutional goals, etc.
- Each supporting document should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 2: Outstanding Noncredit Program Award
This award recognizes an outstanding noncredit program offered by a Central Region member institution. Nominations are open for new and mature noncredit programs which have completed at least one cycle and have been offered within the last two years. Priority consideration will be given to programs that deal with social, diversity or educational issues.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Cost Effectiveness: The program must be cost effective to the institution in a manner consistent with the stated program objectives.
- Longevity: The program must have completed at least one cycle to be considered.
- Innovation: The extent to which the program uses creative ideas in one or more areas or applies ideas to crate sustainability, especially electronic modalities.
- Diversity: The program is intended to serve underserved populations.
- Quality: The extent to which the program has fulfilled objectives. Nomination narrative should include stated objectives, an estimate of success, and evaluation results.
- Contribution to professional, continuing and online education: The degree to which a program makes an ongoing and significant contribution to the field or can be replicated in other settings and institutions.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the program meets the award criteria and showcases the innovative nature of the program offering and the way in which the program meets social, diversity or educational needs.
- Three supporting documents which may include letters of support or commendation for the program, letters from students of the program, letters from administrators describing the contribution of the program to institutional goals, etc.
- Each supporting document should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 3: Excellence in Teaching Award
This award will be given to an individual who consistently demonstrates excellence in teaching credit or noncredit continuing education programs and mentoring learners in the UPCEA Central Region. Nominations will be judged on the individual’s leadership and service within the field as well as innovation in programming and use of innovative delivery methods. The nominee must have served in a teaching role for a minimum of five (5) years.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring of Students: Teaching may be defined to include work with students at any level and in a wide variety of settings. Teaching effectiveness includes the ability to meet student learning objectives and evidence of a student-centered approach. Evidence of superior student mentoring should illustrate nominee’s concern for student development beyond normal expectations of advising.
- Leadership and Service: The extent to which the nominee has provided leadership and service to the institution and to the continuing education profession.
- Innovation in Programming: The extent to which programs generated by the nominee have been new, creative, reached diverse populations, or innovative.
- Overall Contribution to the Field: The nominee’s research, publication, program development, conference presentations, etc. which contribute to the field of professional, continuing and online education.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria and showcases his or her teaching innovations and outstanding mentoring of students
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from an administrator familiar with the nominee’s work
- Two additional supporting documents which may include letters of support or commendation for the nominee, letters from students or letters from others familiar with the nominee’s teaching and mentoring
- Each supporting document, except for CVs, should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 4: Excellence in Advising Award
Advising plays a very important role in the field of professional, continuing or online education. It can be defined to include work with students at any level and in a wide variety of settings. This award will be given to an individual who has provided outstanding leadership and service in an advising role, to continuing education students in the UPCEA Central Region. The nominee must have been in an advising role for a minimum of three years.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Benefit to the Institution: The extent to which the nominee provides exemplary contributions to the institution in the area of advising.
- Outstanding Advising and Mentoring of Students: Strong evidence of superior student mentoring should illustrate the nominee’s understanding of student needs and concern for student development that goes beyond the normal expectations of advising.
- Effectiveness in Advising: The extent to which the nominee utilizes a student-centered approach in advising and mentoring. Items to be considered are student advocacy, a proactive and/or intrusive approach to advising, mentoring of students beyond the basic advising of course availability, and a commitment to professional, continuing and online education within the member’s institution and the region.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from a supervisor or administrator familiar with the nominee’s work in an advising role
- Two additional letters of support addressing the nominee’s qualifications from others familiar with the nominee’s work in an advising role
- Each supporting document, except for CVs, should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 5: Excellence in Instructional Design Award
This award recognizes a credit or noncredit course or program which serves as a model of instructional design excellence for others. The nominated course or program should follow industry best practices and employ leading-edge, sustainable methods and tools for use by educators to provide outstanding online educational experiences for learners. In the case of a program nomination, all courses within the program must exhibit continuity of excellence in instructional design. The course or program must be offered by a UPCEA central region institution.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Creativity and Best Practices: The ways in which the course or program implements innovative design and development approaches to adult learning, utilizes current best practices and pushes the envelope for innovative content delivery.
- Collaboration and Engagement: The extent to which the course or program promotes collaboration and engagement among the participant cohort and between participants and faculty/instructors.
- Outcomes: The extent to which the design of the course or program influences the ability to achieve desired learning outcomes.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria and showcases high-quality, innovative instructional design
- Three supporting documents which may include letters of support related to the instructional design aspect of the course or program or other supporting documents related to how the course or program is a model for excellence in instructional design
- Each supporting document should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 6: Outstanding Professional, Continuing, and/or Online Education Student Award
This award honors a credit or noncredit professional, continuing, and/or online education student for achievement of excellence in pursuit of their educational goals. The nominee must be 25 years of age or older and must have been enrolled in a credit or noncredit program at a UPCEA Central Region member institution within the past 12 months or have completed the program no more than one year prior to the time the award is granted.
The recipient of this award will be nominated by the UPCEA Central Region for the national UPCEA Outstanding Professional, Continuing, and/or Online Education Student Award.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Accomplishment: The nominee demonstrates achievement with an emphasis on growth while enrolled as a student.
- Excellence: The extent to which the nominee demonstrates excellence in areas such as GPA or CEUs earned, university or community involvement, job performance, etc.
- Achievement and Inspiration: The nominee must be an adult student who has met the challenge of an unconventional educational background and become an inspiration to others through the individual growth accomplished in pursuit of his/her educational goals.
- Meeting Multiple Demands: The nominee shall have managed multiple/significant commitments and responsibilities effectively while pursuing his/her education.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria; the narrative should include documentation such as the student’s grade point average, student activities, university and/or community involvement and contributions employment, job performance and other relevant supporting information.
- A statement written by the nominee, no more than three pages in length, describing his or her achievements with an emphasis on the growth accomplished while pursuing their education
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from an instructor, advisor or similar administrator familiar with the nominee’s achievements
- One additional letter of support addressing the nominee’s qualifications from another individual familiar with the nominee’s achievements
- Include documentation (no more than 3 pages) of the student's excellence in achievements, including material such as grade point average, official transcripts, CEUs, student activities, university involvement, community contributions, employment, job performance, etc.
- Each supporting document, except for CVs, should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 7: Engagement Award
The UPCEA Engagement Award recognizes an outstanding partnership between a member institution and one or more external constituents such as local communities, corporations, government organizations or associations. The recognized partnership will demonstrate a mutually-beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources that has resulted in a measurable and sustainable shared impact in areas such as economic development, community development, workforce training or capacity building.
The UPCEA Engagement Award will be awarded to both the UPCEA member institution/unit and the partner organization(s).
The recipient of this award will be nominated by the UPCEA Central Region for the national UPCEA Engagement Award.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Impact: The extent of impact of the partnership’s activities using qualitative and quantitative data provided by nomination.
- Outcomes: The extent to which the partnership’s activities resulted in outcomes that would not have otherwise happened.
- Commitment: The extent to which partners committed their own resources to the partnership’s activities.
- Expanded Partnerships: Additional points will be awarded to nominations that received additional funding from 3rd parties not involved in the original partnership (grants, contracts etc.) to sustain and/or expand the program.
- Tangible and Sustainable Impact: The extent to which the partnership impacted strategic initiatives, citizens, communities or business and industry.
- Benefits to Participants: The extent to which the outreach and engagement activities were beneficial to all participants.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the program meets the award criteria and highlights the partnership’s specific outreach and engagement accomplishments. The narrative should document 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.)
- One letter of support from an institution administrator describing how the partnership meets the award criteria and contributes to institutional goals.
- Two additional letters of support from community constituents describing how the outreach and engagement activities were mutually beneficial to all participants.
- Each supporting document should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 8: Adelle F. Robertson Emerging Professional Continuing Educator Award
This award recognizes the scholarship, leadership, and contributions to the profession of a person who has entered the continuing, online and professional education field in the last 5 to 10 years. The recipient also will be nominated by the UPCEA Central Region for the national UPCEA Adelle F. Robertson Professional Continuing Educator Award. Recipient must be a UPCEA member.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Service to the Profession: The nominee must be a UPCEA Central Region professional member who has exhibited outstanding service to the profession.
- Service to the Institution: The nominee must contribute positively through work that advances the mission of his or her department, or similar unit, and to the institution.
- Scholarship: The nominee’s contributions to the field of continuing, online and professional education.
- Leadership: The nominee’s leadership activities and accomplishments within his or her unit and institution and within the profession.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria and showcases his or her contributions to the field of continuing, online and professional education
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from an administrator familiar with the nominee’s work
- Two to four additional letters of support addressing the nominee’s qualifications from others familiar with the nominee’s work
- Each supporting document, except for CVs should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 9: Outstanding Support Specialist Award—Staff in a Support Role
The purpose of this award is to provide recognition to a UPCEA Central Region professional member or a professional, continuing or online education staff person of a member institution who has exhibited creativity and innovation in the area of program support (i.e., public information officers, marketing personnel, business personnel, registration staff, etc.).
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Service: Unique circumstances of the nominee’s support to the continuing education unit with a focus on the effects of his or her service
- Innovation: The nominee demonstrates creativity and produces innovative work in support of adult and continuing education programs.
- Impact: The extent to which the nominee’s work impacts organizational/institutional goals and success.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from a supervisor or administrator familiar with the nominee’s work
- Two additional letters of support addressing the nominee’s qualifications from others familiar with the nominee’s work and contributions to the institution
- Each supporting document, except for CVs, should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 10: Research and Scholarship Award
The UPCEA Research and Scholarship Award recognizes either 1) significant new research with implications for professional practice in the field of continuing higher education, or 2) an individual UPCEA central region member whose long-term commitment to the conduct of exemplary research has made a significant contribution to the literature and professional practice in the field of continuing higher education. Only one award in each category may be given each year.
ELIGIBILITY:
Research Project: A nominated research project must have been conducted at a UPCEA central region member institution and completed within the last two years, with findings either published or accepted for publication.
Individual Researcher: A nominated individual researcher must be a member of a UPCEA central region institution. His or her research may be quantitative, qualitative, or historical.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
Research Project:
The nominated project may excel in any of the following areas:
- Research findings have strong potential to improve professional practice in the field of continuing higher education
- The research project is informed by and builds upon existing literature
- The research project represents the highest qualities of scholarship.
Individual Researcher:
The nominee will have excelled in the following areas:
- Produced seminal contributions to field 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 continuing higher education.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Three-page narrative statement detailing specific ways in which the nomination meets the criteria above, including a description of how the research was funded.
- In the case of a research project, provide a written summary of the research findings.
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from an administrator familiar with the nominee’s research
- Two to four additional letters of support addressing the nominee’s qualifications and their research and potential impact for the field
- Each supporting document, except for CVs, should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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CATEGORY 11: Outstanding Leadership Award
The award will be given to an UPCEA Central Region professional member who has exhibited outstanding leadership and service within the region. Items to be considered are committee activity, conference activity, promotion of UPCEA at the institutional, state and regional levels and commitment to adult and continuing education within the member’s institution and the region. Nominees for this award should exhibit these qualities and dedication to the profession. The nominee must be a current UPCEA Central Region professional member.
EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- Involvement with UPCEA: Items to be considered are committee activity and conference activity.
- Promotion of UPCEA: The nominee should show commitment to promoting UPCEA at the institutional, state and regional levels.
- Commitment to Professional, Continuing and Online Education: The nominee should show a strong commitment to professional, continuing and online education within the member’s institution and the region.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
- Completed nomination form
- Written narrative of no more than three pages which addresses how the nominee meets the award criteria and showcases his or her contributions to the field of professional, continuing and online education
- A copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, no more than 5 pages in length
- One letter of support from an administrator familiar with the nominee’s work
- Two additional letters of support addressing the nominee’s qualifications from others familiar with the nominee’s activity and work with UPCEA
- Each supporting document, except for CVs, should not exceed three pages.
- Nomination and supporting documents must be submitted by July 1, 2019.
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