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Call for Nominations

2013 - 2014 Dalhousie University
Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisors

The Dalhousie University Awards for Outstanding Academic Advisors were created by the President to recognize exceptional academic advisors and encourage efforts to promote, support and improve academic advising at Dalhousie University. Each year we encourage the selection of one staff member, one faculty member from both an undergraduate and graduate program, and one student to receive an award for outstanding skills in academic advising or mentorship. Any member of staff or faculty serving, or who has recently served as an academic advisor; or a student who has acted as a peer advisor, may be nominated. Normally four awards will be presented annually. Staff and faculty nominees must be currently employed at Dalhousie University. Student nominees must have been acting as peer advisor/mentor during the past year.

The Awards are co-sponsored by the
Office of the Vice President - Student Services and
the Office of the Vice President – Academic and Provost.

Deadline: February 21, 2014

Aims:
•    To recognize the value and impact of academic advising and mentorship in enhancing the academic success, personal satisfaction and professional success of students at Dalhousie University
•    To acknowledge and encourage efforts to promote, support and improve advising and peer mentoring at Dalhousie University
•    To acknowledge publicly individuals whose work has contributed to advising excellence, mentoring or peer mentoring beyond their normal duties at Dalhousie
•    To recognize the efforts of those who enhance the advising practices of their colleagues
•    To seek broader public recognition of these individuals by nominating them, when appropriate, for external advising awards
•    To acknowledge peer mentors and advisors who play a leadership role with other students


Award:
Recipients will be recognized at an Advisor Appreciation reception held annually in the spring.

Award Winner Selection Process:
Award winners will be chosen by a Selection Committee. The Committee will consist of:
•    one active faculty advisor,
•    one active staff advisor,
•    one representative of the Faculty of Graduate Studies,
•    one student representative,
•    the AVP, Student Academic Success Services,
•    the Associate Vice President, Academic, and
•    the Vice President, Student Services.


Criteria:
The Selection Committee will evaluate nominations on the evidence of qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding academic advisor. Criteria may include:
•    Strong interpersonal skills and leadership skills
•    Availability to students, faculty or staff
•    Appropriate referral activity
•    Active mentoring of students
•    Use and dissemination of appropriate information
•    Caring, helpful attitude toward students, faculty and staff
•    Participation in and support of proactive advising to build strong relationships with students
•    Facilitating student progress toward academic, learning and personal goals through developmental advising
•    Mastery of institutional rules, regulations, policies and procedures
•    Participation in and support of advisor development programs
•    Responsiveness to the needs of particular student constituencies
•    An award-winning advisor is not eligible for re-nomination for a period of ten years; any such re-nomination will be based on evidence from the ten-year intervening period

Graduate Advisor Nomination Criteria
In addition to the criteria listed above the evaluation of nominations for graduate advisors will consider:
•    Individually tailored guidance for each student
•    Proactive integration of students into the profession
•    Encouragement and inspiration of undergraduate students to pursue graduate studies


Nomination Procedure
Nominations must be submitted in electronic and print forms by February 21, 2014 to:

Assistant Vice-President, Student Academic Success Services
Room G28 Killam Library 6225 University Ave, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2

Persons wishing to nominate someone for an award are asked to submit the following:
•    A letter of nomination outlining the peer mentor or advisor's qualifications for the award, indicating the extent to which the advisor meets the awards criteria, citing letters of support, data, and/or other materials illustrative of exemplary performance
•    A maximum of five letters of support outlining the basis of nomination, at least three of which must be from students. Successful nominations always include one or two letters from faculty members and/or program coordinator or department chairperson, or a faculty/staff person who has supervised or has first-hand knowledge of the mentoring or advising done by the student being nominated.
•    Any other pertinent information.

Please indicate in your submission the award category:
A) Faculty or Staff Undergraduate advisor;
B) Graduate advisor;
C) Peer advisor.

For further information contact: Karen Walsh, 494-3900, Student Academic Success Services