Award for Outstanding First-Generation Student Advocacy - Nomination Process

Award Description

The Award for Outstanding First-Generation Student Advocacy, given annually by the UI First-Generation Task Force, honors one faculty member and one staff member or administrator who support first-generation students’ education and serve as an exemplary advocate for first-generation students at the University of Iowa.  Recipients of the award will be honored in November during the annual 1stGen@Iowa Awards and Recognition Ceremony.

Nomination Instructions

Eligibility for Award:

  • Current UI administrators, staff, and faculty are eligible for this award
  • Two awards will be given -- one to a UI faculty member and one to a UI staff member or administrator
  • It is not required that nominees have identified as first-generation students themselves

Who May Nominate:

  • Any UI student or faculty or staff member may make a nomination. 

Deadline:

  • Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023.

Nomination Materials:

To nominate a faculty or staff member for this award, submit each of the materials listed below.  Please note that this nomination requires two participants -- one to submit the form (primary nominator) and one to provide an additional letter of support that is attached to the nomination form.

  1. Nomination Form: The nominator should complete the online nomination form that addresses the following questions (2,000 character limit per question):
    • How has the nominee demonstrated exemplary commitment towards advocacy for, and support of, first-generation students?
    • What evidence is there that the nominee's work has positively affected either a large number of first-generation students and/or a smaller number of first-generation students deeply?
    • How has the nominee’s work contributed towards long-term and/or permanent institutional efforts to increase first-generation student admission and/or progression towards degree?
    • In what other ways has the nominee been recognized for their advocacy and support of first-generation students at the University of Iowa?
  2. Letter of Support:  Submit one letter of support, provided by someone (current UI student or faculty or staff member) other than the primary nominator, that also specifically addresses each of the four bulleted questions listed above.  The letter of support is limited to two pages; no more than one letter will be accepted.

You will also need to provide the name of the nominee’s Departmental Executive Officer (for faculty) or direct supervisor (for staff).  This person will be asked to provide their endorsement of the nomination via approval of the form in workflow.

Nominate

Selection Process:

A committee of three persons composed of UI First-Generation Task Force members will review the nominations according to the criteria outlined in the above nomination materials.

Timeline:

  • Nomination Form Opens:  Thursday, August 31, 2023
  • Nomination Submission Deadline:  Friday, October 6, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Nomination Endorsement Deadline (supervisor or DEO endorsement in workflow):  Monday, October 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Recipients notified in October 2023 and awards presented in November 2023

Contact:

Please contact Angie Lamb (angela-lamb@uiowa.edu) with questions.