College
Awards

College Award Criteria &
College Award Recipients

University
Awards

2025 University Award
Recipients 

Process of Nominations

1. During the College Awards cycle, faculty and staff will receive an email from the College Advisory and Communication Committee (CACC) about the process and timeline of the award cycle.  This will include a nomination form.
   • Nominations can come from faculty, staff, students, or an academic unit.  Nominees may also self-nominate.
   • Nominators will need to carefully read the descriptions and criteria of each Award before nominating their colleagues. 
   • Along with a completed nomination form, the nominator will be asked to submit a statement as to how the nominee meets each criterion.
   • Past award recipients cannot receive the same award within five years.
2. After the nomination is submitted to CACC, the nominee will receive an email to accept or deny the nomination for the Award and be given the opportunity to include their own brief statement.
3. After the nomination cycle is over, the CACC will meet to process and discuss the nominations and select the recipients of the Awards based on the nominees that best fit each category's criteria. Award recipients will be notified on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
4. Recipients of each College Award will be awarded their plaque at the Winter College of Education and Community Innovation Meeting.

Award Categories

Administrative Professional Commendation
CECI Collaboration Award
Community Engagement Initiative Award
Internationalization Award
Leadership Award
Outstanding Adjunct Award
Outstanding Contribution to a Discipline
Outstanding Instructor Award
Outstanding Mentor to Colleagues Award
Outstanding Mentor to Students Award
Outstanding Service by Faculty Award
Outstanding Service by Staff Award
Outstanding Teacher Award
Professional Support Staff Commendation

Process of Nominations

1. During the University Awards cycle, faculty and staff will receive an email from the College Advisory and Communication Committee (CACC) about the process and timeline of the award cycle. This will include a nomination form.
2. Unit heads or their designee will determine the process for University awards nominations within their department.
3. Nominees will be selected.
4. Nominees will be notified by September 24th, 2023, of the unit’s desire to nominate them.
5. By September 29th, 2023, the unit head or their designee will forward all the names and awards of the individuals who have accepted their nominations.to Shawn Evans in the Dean's Office. Please read the guidelines and requirements for each award you are submitting for very carefully to ensure accuracy.
6. The unit head or their designee will work with nominees to submit the completed nomination packets to Shawn Evans by October 24th, 2023, as a single, combined .pdf file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions about the nomination process for university awards

Award Categories

Glenn A. Niemeyer Award
University Outstanding Teacher Award
Distinguished Contribution in a Discipline Award 
Outstanding University Service Award
Outstanding Community Service Award 
Outstanding Academic Advising & Student Services Award
Internationalization Award
Pew Awards for Excellence
CSCE Awards for Scholarly and Creative Excellence
Other Awards

CSCE Faculty Awards

Distinguished Contribution in a Discipline Award
Distinguished Early-Career Scholar Award
Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award
Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award

Pew Awards for Excellence

Pew Teaching Excellence Award
Pew Teaching with Technology Award
Pew Excellence Award for Library Faculty
Pew Teaching Excellence Award for Part-time Faculty
Pew Excellence Award for Teaching and Learning Enrichment
Burch, Jacobs, and Moore Diversity Teaching Excellence

University Faculty Awards

Glenn A. Niemeyer Faculty Award
Glenn A. Niemeyer Student Award
Outstanding University Service Award
Outstanding Community Service Award
Outstanding Academic Advising & Student Services Award
Internationalization Award

Links to the above awards can be found on the Provost's website.

Glenn A. Niemeyer Award

Ellen Schiller, Ph.D.
Professor of Teaching and Learning

Ellen Schiller is a passionate mathematics and science educator who has a flair for making learning engaging and relatable. Her innovative approach not only fosters a love for math and science but also creates a warm, inclusive learning environment. During the pandemic, she was highly motivated to replicate the hands-on, interactive pedagogy in her in-person classes in an on-line environment. Schiller turned to her family for inspiration, creating demonstration videos of her family playing math games to replicate in-class activities. She was recently recognized by the National Science Teaching Association for her service of writing 40 reviews of published science education content. Schiller has been a prolific grant writer and principal investigator in the areas of math and science professional development. She has been awarded six federal grants which have provided sustained professional development in teaching science or math to local teachers in the Wyoming, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Muskegon Heights, and Kentwood school districts.

Pew Teaching Excellence Award

Adrian Copeland, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies

Adrian Copeland’s teaching centers on collaborative learning and student engagement in real-world ways to develop confidence and critical thinking. Reflecting on student feedback to hone learning activities, she incorporates multiple teaching strategies and innovations to challenge students. For example, in Legal Studies 428: Civil Litigation II, Copeland guides students to a culminating experience in a mock trial, preparing as members of two law firms. Serving as judge, Copeland “pauses” the mock trial to insert “learning opportunities,” asking students to clarify concepts or decisions to correct errors in practice. Students identify the mock trial as one of their most impactful GVSU experiences.

Pew Teaching with Technology Award

Courtney Topić, J.D.
Assistant Professor of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies

Courtney Topić’s Virtual Reality Courtroom project represents the best of what innovative instructional technology can do to enhance student learning. The project breaks down physical and practical barriers to give students access to experiences far beyond what could be accomplished through simple text or images (to virtually “step into” a courtroom in Michigan’s 61st District Court). These benefits come across clearly in the positive feedback provided by Topić’s students and colleagues. Topić’ has worked extensively to build awareness of this project and the technology behind it.