2019 UPCEA South Region Conference

Call for Awards Nominations

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 from previous years, 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 2020.

Award categories for 2019:

Nomination Checklist:

Follow the criteria for each award as listed
In a narrative statement of one to two pages, list the specific reasons why this activity or individual meets the award criteria and should be considered for this honor
To support your nomination as applicable, feel free to consider submitting any of these supplemental documents:
• Current résumé of the nominee
• Letters of support from colleagues and/or students
• Other materials that support the nomination, such as publications

Awards nominations have closed. Thank you to all who submitted!

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

CATEGORIES AND CRITERIA FOR THE 2018 UPCEA SOUTH AWARDS

I. Outstanding Service to Continuing Education
For an individual who has ten or more years of service in a university continuing education unit and is / or has been during the past two years a staff member of a UPCEA South institution. (Nominations from persons on behalf of their supervisors at their institutions will NOT be considered).

Criteria:

Contributed substantially to the development and maintenance of his/her institution and UPCEA South
Demonstrated service which has been recognized and valued by his/her institution and UPCEA South

II. Professional Continuing Educator Award
For a professional member of UPCEA South who is employed in a university continuing education unit for a period of at least the last five, yet not more than ten years.

Criteria:

Demonstrated leadership through innovative program development in continuing higher education
Distinguished scholarship and notable applied research through outstanding programs, teaching, and/or publication

III. Program of Excellence-Credit
For an individual (or group of individuals) or program that improves the quality of teaching and learning at the nominating institution in a unique manner.

Criteria:

Exemplified the best in instructional design and effectiveness in meeting an educational need, while improving the quality of teaching and learning at his/her member institution
Must have been offered during the last two years
Must have completed one cycle to be considered
Must provide a statement explaining accomplishment of program goals and a brief program evaluation
Must be a cost effective program

IV. Program of Excellence-Noncredit
For an individual (or group of individuals) or program that improves the quality of teaching and learning at the nominating institution.

Criteria:

Exemplified the best in instructional design and effectiveness in meeting an educational need, while improving the quality of teaching and learning at his/her member institution
Must have been offered within the last two years
Must have completed at least one cycle to be considered
Must provide a statement explaining accomplishment of program goals and a brief program evaluation
Must be a cost effective program

V. Research and Scholarship Award
For an individual (or group of individuals) who 1) has conducted significant new research with implications for professional practice in the field of continuing higher education, or 2) is an individual UPCEA 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.

Criteria:
A. Research Project:
The nominated project will excel in 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.

B. Individual Researcher:
The nominee will have excelled in the following areas:

Produced extensive 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 continuing higher education.

VI. Continuing Education Faculty Award
For a faculty member at a UPCEA South member institution who has assisted the field of continuing education in a worthy and exemplary manner (credit and noncredit in same category).

Criteria:

Served as an excellent teacher to continuing education learners
Developed and/or coordinated model continuing education programs
Facilitated new programming areas through continuing education
Opened new avenues for the advancement of continuing education learners
Include curriculum vitae and two letters of support

VII. Emerging Continuing Education Leader
For a relative newcomer to the field of Adult/Continuing Education who has made an outstanding contribution to his/her organization, to UPCEA, and/or to the profession as a whole.

Criteria:

Individual must be a university continuing education professional for less than five years.
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.

VIII. 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 been developed within the past two years
Program must have completed at least one cycle within last two years
Explanation of program results must be provided
Nominations to include sample of program’s marketing efforts

IX. Continuing Education Student Award
For an individual who has shown exemplary determination against difficult odds and with academic excellence as a continuing education student during the previous year (separate credit and noncredit categories).

Criteria:

Enrolled as an adult student (age 25 or older) in a program at a UPCEA member institution within the past academic year
Managed multiple/significant commitments and responsibilities effectively while engaged in his/her education
Possessed an unconventional educational background whose achievement of excellence in the pursuit of his/her education is inspirational
Exemplifies the character the nominating institution feels worthy of one selected to represent UPCEA South

X. UPCEA South Engagement Award
Awarded to both the UPCEA member institution/unit and the partner organization(s). This will help highlight the outreach and engagement work of UPCEA members and UPCEA’s brand name.

Criteria:

A letter of nomination highlighting the partnership’s specific outreach/engagement accomplishments. The partnership must be comprised of a university/college and at least one external partner organization.
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.)
Letters of support from community constituents describing how the outreach and engagement activities were mutually beneficial to all participants.

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.