Faculty and Staff Award Criteria

Outstanding Teacher Award Outstanding Scholar Award Excellent Service Award Rising Star Award Additional Information

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Outstanding Teacher Award

Criteria
This award will be based on a demonstrated record of fostering critical thinking, supporting students and creatively engaging students in their learning. The recipient of this award will have demonstrated at least two of the following:

• Learning through inquiry, experimentation and discovery
• Heightened awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity and the importance of global contexts
• Active participation in experiential learning and community partnerships
• Active and collaborative learning through a variety of hands-on, service learning or other experiences
• Challenging and well-organized presentations of the subject
• Adaptability to the learning needs of students; innovative approaches to course materials
• Creation of scholarly materials for student use
• Influencing students beyond the formal role of teacher such as advising or mentoring and being available to students outside of class
• Advising student organizations or groups

Eligibility

• Full-time faculty (tenure and tenure-track)
• Previous recipients are eligible for this award again after three years

Outstanding Scholar Award

Criteria
This award will be based on demonstrated excellence in scholarly or professional achievement in the previous five years including the following:

• Publications
• Presentations
• Installations
• Performances
• Student-centered research

Eligibility

• Full-time faculty (tenure and tenure-track)
• Previous winners are eligible for this award again

Excellent Service Award

Criteria
This award is designed to recognize exceptional service by a staff member committed to the mission and values of the College. Examples may include effectively meeting an unexpected challenge, creating an innovative service or program, or providing exceptional service to a student. The recipient will have a record of sustained excellence, results-based practices, and continuous improvement in workplace effectiveness.

Nominees will meet at least two of the qualifications below:

• Significantly contributes to college initiatives, departmental initiatives, student success or improving the student experience
• Continually improves operational efficiency 
• Provides exceptional customer service
• Increases productivity, cost savings or enhanced objectives
• Continually challenges him/herself
• Finds positive, creative solutions to problems
• Acts as a change agent
• Is innovative
• Exceeds the expectations of their role
• Engages with the Aquinas community in a significant manner

Eligibility

• Regular full- and part-time staff members with at least three years of service
• Previous recipients are eligible for this award again after three years

Rising Star Award

Criteria
This award is designed specifically to recognize a new staff member (1-3 years of service) who demonstrates exceptional commitment to the mission and values of the College in the way they meet their goals and serve the College and the Aquinas community. Examples may include effectively meeting an unexpected challenge, creating an innovative service or program, or providing exceptional service to a student.

Nominees will meet at least two of the qualifications below:

• Significantly contributes to college initiatives, departmental initiatives, student success or improving the student experience
• Continually improves operational efficiency
• Provides exceptional customer service
• Increases productivity, cost savings or enhanced objectives
• Continually challenges him/herself
• Finds positive, creative solutions to problems
• Acts as a change agent
• Is innovative
• Exceeds the expectations of their role
• Engages with the Aquinas community in a significant manner

Eligibility

• All regular staff members, full- and part-time, with at least one year of service and no more than three years of continuous service at the time of nomination
• Previous winners are eligible for this award again after three years.

Additional President's Awards Information

The Award Recipients will receive the following:

• $1,000 cash (before taxes and applicable withholdings) 
• Framed certificate
• Letter from the President
• Featured article in Aquinas college communications
• Press release
• Reception for all award winners and their guest with the President and members of the Board of Trustees