The Harold E. Cheatham Innovative Practice Award honors the life and work of Harold E. Cheatham, who exemplifies the qualities of this award. This award recognizes the outstanding work of a campus practitioner who is innovative in their approach, and who has made a significant impact on student communities on their campus. ACPA intends to honor practitioners who are making a difference at the local level and are successfully trying and assessing new and creative approaches to our work.

Award Criteria:

• Minimum of 8 years as a practitioner in student affairs
• Evidence of making a significant contribution(s) to the co-curricular student experience, their campus
• Evidence of implementing innovative practices
• Demonstrated commitment to ACPA

Required Documentation:

• Letter of nomination that articulates how the individual meets the criteria for the award and includes the nominee’s name, email address, and telephone number
• The nominee’s resume
• Two supporting letters from department and campus leadership

The ACPA Collaborative Excellence awards recognize a program (institution or department) which has demonstrated an exemplary partnership or an innovative, collaborative initiative among academic and student affairs professionals/departments for a sustained period of two or more years. This award recognizes achievements that support and foster college student learning through the generation and dissemination of knowledge. These achievements should also inform policies, practices and programs at a college/university. Nominations may be received from any individual, regardless of institutional or individual membership affiliation with ACPA.

Award Criteria

• Evidence of exemplary partnership or collaboration for at least 2 years
• Evidence that the program fosters student learning and has contributed positively to the university
• Documented assessment of the program learning outcomes and results
• Demonstrated commitment to ACPA

Required Documentation

• A brief abstract of the program
• A nomination letter that articulates (a)  The program’s benefits to students; (b)  How the collaborative relationship (including the expression of values/ethics, roles/responsibilities, communication, and teams/teamwork) is critical to the achievement of the program’s goals and outcomes; (c)  Evidence that demonstrates excellence and effectiveness of the program; and, (d) the name, email address, and telephone number for the collaborative program’s point person
• Copies of marketing materials, articles, or other publications related to the program, if appropriate
• Two supporting letters from leaders in the field or a letter from the college/university president expressing why the collaborative program is so critically important to the institution in place of two supporting letters
• Acknowledgement by senior leaders in the collaborating departments/institutions offering their support for the partnership and program (these may serve in the place of the two supporting letters or they may be simple brief statements of support in addition to the two letters)c

The Champion of Sustainability Award is granted each year to an individual (or group) modeling emerging and current sustainability practices. In particular, the committee members wish to see evidence of collaboration to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, with an emphasis on environmental justice practices.  

Required documentation

• Letter of nomination that articulates how the individual or group meets the criteria for the award and includes the individual/group nominee’s name, email address, and telephone number
• Two supporting letters from department and campus leadership

Started in 1979, the Annuit Coeptis Award honors three senior professionals at a dinner with the Annuit Coeptis Emerging Professionals, where there can be wide-ranging discussions and exchanges about professional issues. These awards were created by ACPA (College Student Educators International) to celebrate the lives of Philip A. Tripp, Ursula Delworth, and Cynthia Johnson who dearly loved to challenge their contemporary and junior colleagues in a spirit of personal and professional sharing, good humor, and intellectual debate. The Latin phrase “annuit coeptis” reflects Professor Tripp’s optimism for the future by suggesting, “He has smiled upon that which we have begun.” 

This award is intended to be a generative and cross-generational experience. The dinner models the importance of being both teachers and learners. It invites awardees into the practice of the synergy that can be created when we come together with cross-generational wisdom.

Award Criteria

1. Evidence of extensive and sustained contributions to the field of student affairs in the areas of (a) administrative service or teaching, (b) research and publication, (c) professional association service, and (d) demonstrated leadership.
2. Evidence of Phil Tripp’s commitment to mentoring and encouraging early career student affairs professionals.
3. Recipients must plan to register and attend the 2025 ACPA Annual Convention and be available to share dinner with the other award recipients (traditionally on Tuesday evening of the conference.

Nomination Process

• To nominate a colleague for the Senior Professional Award, please submit a nominee’s resume and a letter explaining how the person meets the criteria listed above. Up to two additional letters of support are encouraged
• Nomination materials must be received no later than 1 October 2024.
• Please note that past recipients of the Emerging Professional Award are eligible for the Senior Award later in their careers.
  If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Washington, [email protected]

applications due 25 August 2024

ACPA implemented its Senior Scholars program in 1984 and has since been advocating for the integration of scholarship into the practice of student affairs. Senior Scholars, through the creation of an engaged scholar network, keep abreast of promising work and identify critical issues that could benefit from inquiry and attention. The Senior Scholars Program provides scholars with a continuing opportunity to promote scholarship through the presentation of programs of interest to the profession at each national convention and to serve the association on projects related to their fields of interest. 

ACPA Senior Scholars represent the best of engaged scholarship relevant to student affairs work in higher education. Scholars are senior members of the profession (e.g., generally full professors or senior student affairs officers) who have made exemplary and sustained contributions to ACPA’s mission transforming higher education by creating and sharing influential scholarship, shaping critically reflective practice, and advocating for equitable and inclusive learning environments.

To learn more about the expectations of becoming a Senior Scholar, visit their webpage.

Award Criteria

1. A maximum of 12 Senior Scholars can hold active membership
2. Senior Scholars must be or become members of ACPA and maintain that their membership throughout their term.
3. Senior Scholars serve terms of five years. The term begins at the end of the convention following the appointment as Senior Scholar.
4. Senior Scholars are strongly encouraged to attend the convention at the time of their appointment to begin their orientation to the group.

Nomination Process

If you would like to nominate a deserving colleague, please forward their name and contact information to Dr. Ximena Zúñiga, [email protected], in advance of the 25 August 2024 application deadline. Nominees will be invited to apply for consideration by submitting the materials listed below.

Application Process

To apply for ACPA Senior Scholars, submit a single PDF document with the following materials: (a) cover letter with responses to questions below (no more than 250 words per question) and (b) current CV.

1. How can you help the Senior Scholars advance our statement of action?
2. How do your scholarly interests and trajectory align with those found in ACPA’s A Bold Vision Forward: A Framework for the Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization.
3. How will being a part of Senior Scholars contribute to your scholarly and professional development?
4. What role would you like to see the Senior Scholars play for the association and the field of student affairs?

Application Submission

• Applications are due 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, 25 August 2024.
• All materials should be submitted in a single PDF document, in the order listed under “application process.”
• Please use “Senior Scholars Application—LAST NAME” for your PDF file.
• Applicants will be notified in October 2024.
• For more information, contact Dr. Ximena Zúñiga ([email protected]), Dr. Fred A. Bonner ([email protected]), or Dr. Lori Patton Davis ([email protected]).

Started in 1979, the Annuit Coeptis Award honors five early career professionals at a dinner with the Annuit Coeptis Senior Professionals, where there can be wide-ranging discussion and exchange about professional issues. These awards were created by ACPA (College Student Educators International) to celebrate the lives of Philip A. Tripp, Ursula Delworth, and Cynthia Johnson who dearly loved to challenge their contemporary and junior colleagues in a spirit of personal and professional sharing, good humor, and intellectual debate. The Latin phrase “annuit coeptis” reflects Professor Tripp’s optimism for the future by suggesting that “He has smiled upon that which we have begun.” 

This award is intended to be a generative and cross generational experience.  The dinner models the importance of being both teachers and learners. It invites awardees into the practice of the synergy that can be created when we come together with cross generational wisdom.

Award Criteria

1. No more than five years of full-time professional experience since completion of a master’s degree.
2. Evidence of the potential for significant contribution to the field of student affairs in at least one of the following areas: (a) administrative service or teaching; (b) presentations (to include conference presentations) of innovative practice(s) or scholarship; (c) professional association service; or (d) leadership.
3. Recipients must register for and attend the 2024 ACPA Annual Convention and be available to share dinner with the other award recipients (traditionally on Tuesday evening of the conference). If someone is selected for the award but is unable to register for the 2024 ACPA Annual Convention and participate in the dinner, they may be considered for nomination in 2025.

Nomination Process

• To nominate a colleague for the Emerging Professional level, please submit the nominee’s current resume and at least one nomination letter explaining how the person meets the criteria listed above. Up to two additional letters of support are encouraged.
• Nomination materials must be received no later than 1 October 2024.
• If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Washington, [email protected]

applications due 25 August 2024

We are now accepting applications for the Class of 2025-2027 ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designees. Recipients will be announced as 2025-2027 ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designees (that is, the 2025 ACPA Convention through the 2027 ACPA Convention) and will each receive a $3,000 research grant from ACPA. The Emerging Scholar-Designees who have fulfilled their research and scholarly leadership commitments – as specified in their applications – by the end of their two-year term will be designated as ACPA Emerging Scholars. Requests for a one-year unfunded extension or renegotiation of the specified leadership commitments by Emerging Scholar-Designees will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

To learn more about the expectations of becoming an Emerging Scholar, visit their webpage.

Award Criteria

1. Applicants must be an ACPA member.
2. Applicants either must be between 3-5 years after completing their doctorate (degree conferred 2019-2021) OR if the doctorate was earned prior to 2019, applicant must have started their first full-time faculty and/or professional position between 2019-2022.
3. Emerging Scholar-Designees must register for ACPA25.
4. Emerging Scholar-Designees must participate in a meeting with the Senior Scholars, traditionally held the day prior to and day of Opening Session. This year, those dates are Saturday, 15 February & Sunday, 16 February 2025.
5. Emerging Scholar-Designees will receive a $3,000 research grant.

Application Process

Letter of interest that includes the following:

1. How your scholarly interests and trajectory align with those found in ACPA’s A Bold Vision Forward: A Framework for the Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization.
2. What might you hope to learn from or get out of your engagement with the Senior Scholars? What topics might you wish to discuss with the Senior Scholars over the course of the year?
3. Your current and past involvement with ACPA, including any leadership position you have held.
4. Your willingness to complete at least two proposed scholarly leadership commitments (see below) during the Emerging Scholars Program two-year period.
   1. Co-coordinate an ACPA25 Educational Session or Pre-Convention Workshop with a current Senior Scholar or another Emerging Scholar designed to advance the goals of the SIRJD.
   2. If selected, serve as designated Scholar-in-Residence (minimum one-year term) for an ACPA Commission, Coalition, or other formally constituted group.
   3. Submit a scholarly piece to Developments. [MOU2]
   4. Share the opportunities you have had for scholarly support in your doctoral program and your career to date and challenges to your scholarly productivity (e.g., teaching load, mentoring, internal grant opportunities, etc.)
   5. Other (to be proposed by the candidate) that will advance ACPA’s mission, vision, values, or Strategic Imperative and is consistent with the applicant’s scholarly agenda. Applicants should describe the proposed commitment in sufficient detail to foster understanding of its content and scope during the ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designee review and selection processes.

Current CV

Research project proposal of no more than three single-spaced pages, excluding cover page and reference list

1. A description of the proposed research project (including description of methodology and methods), and how the study advances the applicant’s broader research agenda.
2. A proposed time frame (ordinarily, no longer than the designee’s two-year term as ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designee).
3. A brief project budget not to exceed $3,000. Funds may be used for operating expenses including travel for data collection or dissemination. Funds may not be used to purchase equipment or to offset or supplement the designee’s salary or solely to cover conference travel. ACPA funding may not be used to cover F&A/indirect costs.
4. An explanation of how the proposed research project, within the context of the applicant’s overall research agenda, advances ACPA’s mission, vision, and values as well as ACPA’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization.
5. A commitment to present research findings at a minimum of one ACPA convention during the designee’s two-year term (that is, 2025 Emerging Scholar-Designees must present at either the 2026 or the 2027 convention as part of the sponsored Emerging Scholar research sessions).

Application Submission

• Applications including all supporting documents are due 11:59 pm ET on Sunday, 25 August 25, 2024.
• Submit all materials in a single PDF document, in the order listed under “application process.”
• Please use “Emerging Scholars Application—LAST NAME” for your PDF file.
• Applicants will be notified in October 2024.
• For more information, contact Dr. Ellen Broido ([email protected]) or Dr. Lori Patton Davis ([email protected]).