Faculty & Staff Award for Outstanding First-Generation Student Advocacy - Nomination Process

Description

The Award for Outstanding First-Generation Student Advocacy honors one faculty member and one staff member or administrator who supports first-generation students’ success and serves as an exemplary advocate for first-generation students at the University of Iowa. Recipients of the award will be honored in March 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 current UI student or faculty or staff member may make a nomination.

Deadline:

  • Nominations will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025. 

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 primary nominator completes the online nomination form (available 11/4), addressing 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 students’ progression towards a 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:  Include 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. The letter of support must be uploaded to the online nomination form at the time of submission. 

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 four persons composed of 1stGen@Iowa Faculty & Staff Collaborative members and 1stGen@Iowa Student Advisory Board members will review the nominations according to the criteria outlined in the above nomination materials. 

Timeline:

  • Nomination Form Opens: Monday, November 4, 2024
  • Nomination Submission Deadline: Friday, January 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Nomination Endorsement Deadline (supervisor or DEO endorsement in workflow): Monday, February 3, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
  • Recipients notified in February 2025 and awards presented in March 2025.
     

Contact:

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