Submission Deadline: April 9, 2025
The designated Innovation of the Year Award contact is responsible for administering this award and submitting a winning innovation online. We highly suggest gathering the following information prior to entering the submission portal.
Title (100-character limit, not including spaces)
Provide a succinct title that refers to the winning innovation.
Description (1,000-character limit, not including spaces)
In full sentences, summarize the winning innovation and why/how it is innovative.
Recipients
Create a list of award-winning team members, including full- and part-time instructors, student services staff, administrators, and support personnel. (While we recognize that industry partners, community representatives, and students may be involved in college efforts, these awards are strictly for college employees.)
Category
Determine the category with which the winning innovation is most closely aligned.
- Basic Skills and Developmental Education
- Leadership and Organization
- Learning and Teaching
- Research, Assessment, and Accountability
- Resource Development
- Student Services and Activities
- Workforce Preparation and Development
- Other
Criteria
Select one or more of the following criteria that most strongly apply to the winning innovation.
- Quality. Students and/or staff agree that the innovation increases quality in the course, program, office, or institution. Evidence of quality may include student ratings or letters of support from colleagues.
- Efficiency. There is evidence that the innovation contributes to a more efficient way of doing things. Student ratings, perceptions of outside consultants, and pre- and post-comparison of time involved are examples of evidence.
- Cost Effectiveness. There is evidence that the innovation adds value to the institution while at the same time containing or reducing costs. Cost data will serve as evidence.
- Replication. The innovation can be replicated at other institutions with a minimum of difficulty.
- Creativity. The innovation should be original or the adaptation creative. The program description or letters from experts are examples of evidence.
- Timeliness. The innovation should be no more than five years old at the institution, but must have been around long enough to have been tested so that it meets most of the criteria.
- Other. Other ways that the innovation is worthy of this award.
Institutional Recognition (300-character limit, not including spaces)
Indicate how the college, district, or system will recognize the award-winning innovation and associated recipients.
If you have any questions about these awards, please contact Kelly Dooling.
