ACPA Chapter & Division Awards

“Leader” is an open term, which may include Presidents, elect’s, board members, or general members who have gone above & beyond to advance your Chapter/Division. You may nominate 1 leader per Chapter/Division.

Required Documentation:

1. Nomination Letter — Provide specific details of how the Chapter or Division leader demonstrated exceptional leadership contributions through elected, appointed, and/or volunteer service. Highlight areas of outstanding service and commitment, including how the leader: (3-page max)

• Advanced ACPA’s and/or the Chapter/Division’s core values, strategic priorities, and/or goals
• Exceeded the expectations of their role or volunteer position
• Proactively responded to and supported the needs of members

2. Supplemental Documents — Please provide any additional documents that demonstrate how the nominee meets the award criteria and/or provides additional evidence of their impact, contributions, and accomplishments. (3-page max)

The goal of this award is to recognize and honor excellence for an innovative program, service, or project created by an Chapter or Division.

Required Documentation:

1. Nomination Letter — Describe how the origins, development, implementation, and advancement of this program, service, or project made a significant contribution to the chapter/division and its members. In your response, explain how the initiative: (2-page max)

1. • Advanced ACPA’s and/or the chapter/division’s core values, strategic priorities, and/or goals
   • Used innovation & creativity to change a “Past Practice” into a “Best Practice”

2. Supplemental Documents — Include any supplemental documents to support meeting the criteria (3-page max)

The goal of this award is to recognize an effective practice, program, or strategy that has successfully strengthened membership recruitment, retention, and/or engagement within a Chapter or Division. Eligible initiatives should demonstrate a meaningful impact by enhancing member services, fostering connections, and/or creating opportunities for active and sustained involvement.

Required Documentation:

1. Nomination Letter — Describe how the development, implementation, and growth of this membership strategy or service made a significant impact on your Chapter/Division. Explain how the initiative: (2-page max)

• Advanced ACPA’s and/or the Chapter/Division’s core values, strategic priorities, and/or goals
• Strengthened member recruitment, retention, engagement, and/or satisfaction
• Created sustainable benefits for the Chapter/Division and its members, and demonstrated measurable impact on the membership community.

2. Supplemental Documents — Include any supplemental documents to support meeting the criteria (3-page max).

Each Chapter/Division can recognize one individual or organization that lives or works in your Chapter/Division’s boundaries and is considered a thought leader. A “thought leader” is an individual or organization that educators recognize as one of the foremost authorities in selected areas of specialization, resulting in the person or organization being the go-to individual or organization for said expertise.

Ask yourself, who has contributed to higher education through the development of innovative ideas, creation and dissemination of knowledge, and/or is an expert who is (or will be) sought after to solve problems in higher education?

Examples:

• ICPA (Illinois) may nominate someone like George Kuh for being the foremost thought leader on student engagement.
• ACPA-MI (Michigan) may nominate the Michigan College Access Network (MCAN) for their work to improve the futures of Michigan’s students.
• A graduate student may have developed an innovative way to reduce substance use on campus. A doctoral student could have developed a breakthrough theory on student development for their dissertation research.

You may nominate one thought leader per Chapter or Division. We suggest working with your executive board and conference committees to generate ideas.

Required Documentation

1. Nomination Letter — Please give detailed reasons for how your thought leader made significant contributions to higher education, including: (2-page max)