Professional & Student Awards
Awards Open:
November 1, 2023
Awards Close:
February 16, 2024
Deadline extended!
Questions
If you have questions, email
Brianna Smallman.
The Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award recognizes the exemplary service of a graduate coordinator. Graduate coordinators provide an invaluable service to the university and its community of students, faculty and staff, and the award is one of the few opportunities available to recognize these individuals.
One award is presented, and nominees must have served as a graduate coordinator for two years as of Sept. 1 of the current year to be eligible. Past recipients of the award are eligible for nomination if five or more years have elapsed since they received the award. All prizes will be announced in spring of 2024.
Eligibility
The award committee will evaluate nominees based on the following criteria:
- The nominee's proficiency in serving as an effective advocate for graduate students and advancing graduate causes within the program
- The nominee's accessibility and availability to graduate students
- The nominee's adeptness in acting as a liaison between graduate students and the graduate adviser, as well as fostering effective communication between the graduate program and the Graduate School
- The nominee's effectiveness in guiding students to comprehend and adhere to rules and regulations governing graduate degrees
- The nominee's track record in both preventing and resolving problems within the graduate program
- The nominee's capability to carry out administrative functions with effectiveness and efficiency
- The nominee's organizational and communication skills
- The nominee's history of collaboration with other graduate coordinators and advisers to enhance the overall administration of the graduate program
Nominations
The Graduate School's Online Awards System
Nominations must be submitted using the Graduate School’s online awards system. Nominations may be initiated by academic deans, department chairs, program directors or graduate advisers.
To successfully complete the online application, please gather the following documents:
- Nomination Letter: A letter from the academic dean, department chair, program director, or graduate adviser providing a brief description of why the individual is being nominated
- Letters of Support: A maximum of five letters of support are accepted, with a stipulation that one must be from a current or former student. Supplementary letters can be submitted by faculty, staff or individuals familiar with the nominee's administrative history
- Graduate Program Materials: Relevant materials from the graduate program that support the nomination. This may include information detailing the nominee's role in the production or development of these materials, such as conceptualization, design, writing, editing, etc. Alternatively, a written statement from the nominee describing projects, initiatives and achievements relevant to the graduate program is acceptable
- Nominee's Dates of Service: Clearly provide the dates of service during which the nominee served as a program graduate coordinator
Ensure that all required materials are compiled and ready for submission through the online application portal.
2023 Award Recipient
Clare Higgins Thoman
The Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award recipient in 2023 is Clare Higgins Thoman, graduate coordinator in Art and Art History in the College of Fine Arts.