Nomination Guidelines - The Graduate School Citations for Academic Excellence
The Graduate School Citations for Academic Excellence include:
- Academic Excellence in the Degree Program Award
- Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award
- Outstanding Master's Thesis Award
- Outstanding Final Project Award
- Outstanding Publication Award
- Award for Excellence in Service to the Community/Profession
- Award for Excellence in Leadership/Service to GVSU
- Award for Excellence in Promoting Inclusion and Diversity at GVSU
- Award for Excellence in Sustainability
Learn more about The Graduate School Citation Awards
Please submit the fillable student nomination form and nomination letters electronically via email, with all necessary supporting materials attached. You may submit nominations to Trista Bergerud in The Graduate School at [email protected] before the posted deadline.
For each nominee, the nomination should be comprised of at least one letter of support from a faculty member in the program and a letter of support from the graduate program director or coordinator. Nominations for Outstanding Thesis, Final Project, and Publication Awards should also include a copy of the student’s abstract.
Students may be nominated for more than one award, if eligible. Awards will be made to nominees who rise to the level of excellence by which GVSU wishes to be known.
Academic Excellence in a Degree Program Award
Nominees must demonstrate academic excellence in all regards of graduate study (grade point average, outstanding performance in coursework, academic skills that exceed the average in terms of written assignments, projects, service, or leadership). Faculty should only nominate a student whom all agree is outstanding.
Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award
Nominees must have successfully completed the defense of their dissertation. Student work must be of publishable quality, or of research on a topic of exceptional significance to the profession or discipline. Final manuscripts are expected to demonstrate excellence in design, analysis, and discussion, and should stand above the work of all other students in the given semester.
Outstanding Master's Thesis Award
Nominees must have successfully completed the defense of their thesis. Student work must be of publishable quality, or of research on a topic of exceptional significance to the profession or discipline. Final manuscripts are expected to demonstrate excellence in design, analysis, and discussion, and should stand above the work of all other students in the given semester.
Outstanding Final Project Award
Nominees must have completed a project that has demonstrated excellence in its conception, merit, significance, and in its presentation (written or otherwise).
Outstanding Publication Award
Nominees work have been published or accepted for publication in a professional journal. The student shall serve as a primary author. The publication may be an article or other product appropriate to the profession or discipline (e.g. case study, protocol, literature review, technical report, etc.).
Award for Excellence in Service to the Community or Profession
Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding service and leadership to the community and profession (beyond the GVSU campus). Any faculty or staff member who has observed this student's performance may lend their support to the nomination. Letters should address the ways in which the student's service has benefited the community and/or the profession.
Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service to GVSU
Nominees should have displayed active leadership and service at GVSU. Nominations may be supported by any faculty or staff member who has had the opportunity to observe and evaluate the student's leadership. Letters should address ways in which the student's leadership and service have impacted the university.
Award for Excellence in Promoting Inclusion and Diversity at GVSU
Nominees should have displayed active promotion of inclusion and diversity at Grand Valley State University, as well as embodied the spirit of inclusion within the campus community. Nominations may be supported by any faculty or staff member who has observed the student's promotion of inclusion and diversity at GVSU. Letters should address ways in which the student's actions have impacted the university in terms of inclusion and diversity.
Award for Excellence in Sustainability
Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding leadership and innovative thinking in the community by implementing sustainable best practices. Any faculty or staff member who has observed this student's performance may lend their support to the nomination. Letters should address the ways in which the student has given life to a sustainability initiative in one or more aspects of the triple bottom line in sustainability (economic, social, or environmental).
The same student can be nominated in multiple categories. However, multiple students cannot be nominated in the same category. For example, Mary Jones can be nominated for outstanding thesis AND service to GVSU. But Mary Jones, Jane Doe, and John Smith cannot all be nominated for the same award, e.g. excellence in the degree program.