Call for Nominations for Community Engagement Awards

The Office of Community Engagement annually recognizes faculty members, students and community partners for contributions to civic engagement and is now accepting nominations for these awards. The deadline to submit nominations is Wednesday, April 13, by 5 p.m.

Faculty Award for Outstanding Engagement

This award is granted each year to a faculty member for exemplary implementation of pedagogies of engagement. The award acknowledges the courage and commitment necessary to integrate community engagement successfully into credit-bearing coursework.

By offering this award, the Office of Community Engagement expresses its appreciation for faculty who foster student reflection and critical awareness of social issues impacting the public square. Self-nominations are accepted. Only faculty members who have designated their course(s) through the university’s designation process are eligible to receive the award.

The Faculty Award for Outstanding Engagement will be granted according to the following criteria:

  • High-quality design and implementation of credit-bearing or requirement-based community engagement
  • Evidence of impact on students and/or community partners
  • Dedication to social responsibility and the common good

Graduate Student Award

The Office of Community Engagement recognizes one graduate student annually for outstanding engagement in the community as indicated by achievement of learning outcomes in coursework, or through a high-quality project or deliverable given to a community partner as part of a class. Nominations must include a supporting letter by a faculty member with whom the student has studied.

The Graduate Student Award will be granted according to the following criteria:

  • High-quality engagement in a designated community engagement course
  • Evidence of impact of engagement on the student and/or community partner and the clients they serve
  • Dedication to social responsibility and the common good
  • Graduate standing

Senior Undergraduate Student Award

The Office of Community Engagement recognizes one undergraduate senior annually for development in critical awareness of the causes of and solutions to social issues confronting us all. Such awareness could be demonstrated in meaningful course reflection or in a significant leadership initiative in relation to his or her work in the community. Nominations must include a supporting letter by a faculty member with whom the student has studied.

The Senior Undergraduate Student Award will be granted according to the following criteria:

  • High-quality engagement in a designated community engagement course
  • Evidence of impact of engagement on the student and/or community partner and the clients they serve
  • Dedication to social responsibility and the common good
  • Senior standing

Undergraduate Student Award

The Office of Community Engagement recognizes one “up-and-coming” student (third-year, second-year or first-year standing) annually for development in critical awareness of the causes of and solutions to social issues confronting us all. Such awareness could be demonstrated in meaningful course reflection or in a significant leadership initiative in relation to his or her work in the community. Nominations must include a supporting letter by a faculty member with whom the student has studied.

The Undergraduate Student Award will be granted according to the following criteria:

  • High-quality engagement in a designated community engagement course
  • Evidence of impact of engagement on the student and/or community partner and the clients they serve
  • Dedication to social responsibility and the common good
  • Third-year, second-year or first-year standing

Community Partner Award

This award recognizes one community partner annually for welcoming St. Thomas faculty and students into the work of its organization, and for collaborating with the university to educate students through meaningful engagement as we strive to foster greater social responsibility.

The Community Partner Award will be granted according to the following criteria:

  • High-quality engagement in a designated community engagement course
  • Evidence of impact on students and/or university community
  • Dedication to social responsibility and the common good

Selection

Nominations must include a supporting letter of no more than 500 words. The nomination letter should address how the nominee has participated in the university’s community engagement program according to the criteria listed above. Tables, figures or photographs of projects are helpful in the selection process.

Award recipients will be determined by the members of the Center for Global & Local Engagement advisory board. The award will be presented at the community engagement recognition reception on Monday, May 2, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Recipients will be informed of the award prior to the reception and are encouraged to be present at the reception to receive their award.

Consistent with the university’s mission statement, the awards are open to students, faculty and community partners who have embraced the university’s mission by becoming “morally responsible leaders, who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good.”

Deadline

To be considered for the annual award, nominations must be made Wednesday, April 13, by 5 p.m. Nominations may be submitted via email to garr0033@stthomas.edu.