Recognizing Exceptional Leadership Across Campus
The Provost’s Academic Leadership Excellence Awards honor outstanding academic administrators who demonstrate vision, integrity, and impact in their leadership roles. These annual awards celebrate leaders who cultivate collegial, high-performing cultures, advance strategic priorities, and support the success of faculty, staff, and students.
Department Chair Leadership Excellence Award
Recognizes department chairs who excel in building collegial departmental cultures, supporting faculty success, leading with transparency and shared governance, and effectively managing resources and operations.
Recognition
- Recognition at The Provost’s Celebration of Academic Leadership
- Professional development stipend ($5,000)
- Engraved plaque
- Invitation to serve as a mentor or panelist for Emerging Leaders or Leadership U
Eligibility
- Position: Department Chair (or equivalent)
- Length of Service: Minimum of 3 years in the role. In exceptional cases, nominees with at least 2 years of service may be considered when there is clear evidence of significant leadership impact and sustained organizational contribution.
- Employment Status: Full-time faculty, Tenure or Renewable Contract Faculty
Selection Criteria
Nominations should demonstrate excellence in Organizational Culture and at least two additional areas listed below.
Organizational Culture
Cultivates a transparent, trustworthy, accountable, and connected culture through clear communication, reliable follow-through, care for others, constructive engagement, and leadership decisions grounded in the success of people, programs, and the institution.
| Category | Example Indicators |
| Faculty & Staff Leadership | Mentors faculty, supports promotion/tenure, fosters trust, manages conflict constructively |
| Departmental Effectiveness | Improves morale, retention, workload equity, and communication |
| Academic Quality & Innovation | Strengthens curriculum, assessment, accreditation, or pedagogical practices |
| Shared Governance | Demonstrates shared governance with regard's to decision-making and transparent processes |
| Operational Leadership | Effectively manages budgets, scheduling, personnel, and departmental operations |
Nomination Process
- Who may nominate: Nominations may be submitted by department faculty, department staff, deans, associate deans, or other academic leaders with direct knowledge of the chair’s leadership.
- Nomination packet includes:
- Nomination letter (1–2 pages): The letter should address the nominee’s leadership in organizational culture and at least two additional award criteria.
- Dean or associate dean endorsement. Required only if the dean or associate dean is not the primary nominator. This may be a brief letter or form confirming the nominee’s leadership impact, scope of responsibility, and alignment with college and institutional priorities.
Brief CV or leadership résumé, maximum 3 pages.
Optional statements of support, up to three brief statements, no more than 250 words each, from faculty, staff, department chairs, peer leaders, students, or other colleagues.
Assistant/Associate Dean Leadership Excellence Award
Recognizes assistant/associate deans who advance college-wide priorities, mentor chairs and faculty, lead strategic initiatives, and translate institutional vision into effective action.
Recognition
- Recognition at The Provost’s Celebration of Academic Leadership
- Professional development stipend ($5,000)
- Engraved plaque or featured campus story
- Invitation to speak or facilitate a session for Leadership U or Chair Development programs
Eligibility
- Position: Assistant/Associate Dean (or equivalent)
- Length of Service: Minimum of 3 years in the role. In exceptional cases, nominees with at least 2 years of service may be considered when there is clear evidence of significant leadership impact and sustained organizational contribution.
- Employment Status: Full-time faculty, Tenure or Renewable Contract Faculty
Selection Criteria
Nominations should demonstrate excellence in Organizational Culture and at least two additional areas listed below.
Organizational Culture
Cultivates a transparent, trustworthy, accountable, and connected culture through clear communication, reliable follow-through, care for others, constructive engagement, and leadership decisions grounded in the success of people, programs, and the institution.
| Category | Example Indicators |
| Program Leadership | Develops, sustains, or grows impactful academic or co-curricular programs |
| People-Centered Leadership | Supports faculty/staff development, morale, and collaboration |
| Innovation & Growth | Introduces new initiatives, partnerships, or delivery models |
| Operational Excellence | Demonstrates strong organization, communication, and fiscal stewardship |
| Mission Alignment | Advances unit and institutional mission and values |
Nomination Process
- Who may nominate:
- Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, administrators, supervisors, peer leaders, or other colleagues with direct knowledge of the nominee’s leadership and program impact.
- Nomination packet includes:
- A nomination letter, 1–2 pages, addressing the nominee’s excellence in Organizational Culture and at least two additional award criteria.
- A brief supervisor endorsement, required if the supervisor is not the primary nominator, confirming the nominee’s leadership role, scope of responsibility, program impact, and alignment with unit, college, or institutional priorities.
- Up to three optional brief statements of support, no more than 250 words each, from faculty, staff, students, peer leaders, campus partners, or other colleagues.
- A brief CV or leadership résumé, maximum 3 pages.
Brief CV or leadership résumé, maximum 3 pages.
Optional statements of support, up to three brief statements, no more than 250 words each, from faculty, staff, department chairs, peer leaders, students, or other colleagues.
Academic Program and Student Success Leadership Excellence Award
Eligible nominees may include executive directors, directors, program coordinators, or other academic leaders with formal responsibility for programs, services, or initiatives that advance the academic mission and contribute to student learning, success, engagement, progression, or completion.
Recognition
- Leading academic programs, services, or initiatives with vision, effectiveness, and accountability
- Strengthening structures, processes, or partnerships that support student learning, progression, success, or engagement
- Fostering collaborative, supportive environments that enable faculty, staff, and academic partners to serve students effectively
- Demonstrating innovation in program development, delivery, or administration that improves academic outcomes or student-facing services
- Advancing OAA, college, or institutional priorities in ways that have a clear connection to student success
Eligibility
- Positions: Executive Directors, Directors, or Program Coordinators with formal leadership responsibility
- Length of Service: Minimum of 3 years in the role. In exceptional cases, nominees with at least 2 years of service may be considered when there is clear evidence of significant leadership impact and sustained organizational contribution.
- Employment Status: Full-time appointment
Selection Criteria
Nominations should demonstrate excellence in Organizational Culture and at least two additional areas listed below. Strong nominations should show how the nominee’s leadership has improved academic programs, services, operations, or partnerships in ways that ultimately benefit students.
Organizational Culture
Cultivates a transparent, trustworthy, accountable, and connected culture through clear communication, reliable follow-through, care for others, constructive engagement, and leadership decisions grounded in the success of people, programs, and the institution.
| Category | Student-Centered Example Indicators |
| Student-Centered Program Leadership | Develops, sustains, or grows academic or co-curricular programs that support student learning, engagement, persistence, completion, belonging, or post-graduate success. |
| Academic Impact | Leads work that strengthens the student academic experience through improved advising, curriculum support, faculty support, academic policy implementation, student-facing services, or learning-related initiatives. |
| People-Centered Leadership | Supports faculty, staff, and academic partners in ways that improve their capacity to serve students effectively and consistently. |
| Innovation & Continuous Improvement | Introduces new initiatives, partnerships, delivery models, or process improvements that respond to student needs or improve the quality, accessibility, or effectiveness of academic services. |
| Operational Excellence | Demonstrates strong organization, communication, fiscal stewardship, and follow-through in managing programs or services that support student-facing academic priorities. |
| Mission Alignment | Advances OAA, college, or institutional priorities with a clear connection to student success, academic excellence, access, engagement, or institutional impact. |
Nomination Process
- Who may nominate:
- Nominations may be submitted by faculty, staff, students, administrators, supervisors, peer leaders, campus partners, or other colleagues with direct knowledge of the nominee’s leadership and its impact on academic programs, student-facing services, or the student experience.
- Nomination packet includes:
- A nomination letter, 1–2 pages, addressing the nominee’s excellence in Organizational Culture and at least two additional award criteria. The letter should clearly describe how the nominee’s leadership contributes to academic priorities and ultimately benefits students.
- A brief supervisor endorsement, required if the supervisor is not the primary nominator, confirming the nominee’s leadership role, scope of responsibility, program impact, and alignment with OAA, unit, college, or institutional priorities.
- Up to three optional brief statements of support, no more than 250 words each, from faculty, staff, students, peer leaders, campus partners, or other colleagues.
- A brief CV or leadership résumé, maximum 3 pages.