Family Engagement in Higher Education Awards

It is time to start applying for and nominating your colleagues and your students for the 2021 AHEPPP Awards! 

Every day you and your colleagues across the United States and Canada advocate for parents, families, and students through top-notch communication, research, activities and programs, and important initiatives that foster student success through family engagement. The Family Engagement in Higher Education National Conference provides our association with the opportunity to showcase some of your amazing work and recognize promising practices in the profession. This year, make sure your institution is among those being honored. It takes just a short time to apply, but the recognition is long lasting. The deadline to apply/nominate is 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021.

The AHEPPP Award Categories are:

Best Institutional Initiative – Small College/University (up to 5,000 students)

Best Institutional Initiative – Mid-Sized College/University (5,001 to 15,000 students)

Best Institutional Initiative – Large College/University (more than 15,001 students)

Excellence in Publication – Print

Excellence in Publication – Digital

Powerful Partnership Award

Outstanding Contribution to Research and/or Literature

Outstanding Graduate or Undergraduate Student

Outstanding New Professional (0-4 years of experience)

Outstanding Mid-Level Professional (4-8 years of experience)

Outstanding Senior-Level Professional (9 or more years of experience)

AHEPPP Founders’ Outstanding Professional Award (10+ years of experience)

We are seeking applications for events/programs/communications that occurred from May 2020 through May 2021. Even though we’ve all had a unique year, we know that there have been “wins” that are award-worthy and we want to hear about them! 

All applications/nominations will be placed into a drawing to win an AHEPPP: Family Engagement in Higher Education merchandise bundle and all applicants/nominators will receive points towards the extremely competitive Challenge Game for each form submitted. The drawing will take place on June 2, and the winner will be notified via email. Board of Directors are not eligible for the drawing.

Questions regarding the 2021 Awards criteria or evaluation process can be emailed to Beth Ullum at [email protected] or Sarah Joslyn at [email protected].


BEST INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE

This award recognizes an institution of higher education and its professional(s) in the field of parent and family programs who have developed and implemented an innovative and creative initiative, resulting in improved activities, services and/or communication for/with parents and families of undergraduate students. Examples of these initiatives could include orientation formats, use of technology, population specific programming, etc. One award will be presented for each institutional size as indicated below.

Best Institutional Initiative – Small College/University (up to 5,000 students)

Best Institutional Initiative – Mid-Sized College/University (5,001 to 15,000 students)

Best Institutional Initiative – Large College/University (more than 15,001 students)

The Best Institutional Initiative award is selected based on the initiative’s ability to:

  • Address a clearly defined need on campus;

  • Demonstrate financial creativity or cost effectiveness;

  • Encourage diverse groups to participate;

  • Be adapted and utilized by other institutions;

  • Contain an assessment component that documents its effectiveness.

  • Note: Institutions may not receive the award more than once for the same initiative.

To nominate an initiative please complete an online nomination form containing the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP institution) describing the innovative/creative initiative and its impact on parents and families of undergraduate students. Include evidence of how the program/initiative:

    1. Addresses a clearly defined need on campus through a creative and innovative approach;

    2. Demonstrates financial creativity or cost effectiveness;

    3. Encourages diverse groups to participate;

    4. Is adaptable by other institutions;

    5. Contains an assessment component that documents its effectiveness.

  2. Additional supporting documents including, but not limited to, photos, videos, marketing materials, or assessment data (optional, but recommended).

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for BEST INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE


EXCELLENCE IN PUBLICATION AND RESOURCES

These awards recognize institutions of higher education and professional(s) who have developed outstanding materials, both print and/or digital, that contribute to the field of parent and family engagement.  Note: Institutions may not receive the award more than once for the same publication or resource. The AHEPPP awards review team maintain the right to select multiple winners for both categories.

QUALIFYING PRINT PUBLICATIONS

Nominations will be judged on content, as well as innovative and functional design. Examples include:

QUALIFYING DIGITAL RESOURCES

Nominations will be judged on content, as well as  engagement and/or analytics. Examples included:

Brochures

Calendars

Newsletters

Magazines

Handbooks/Guides

Other informational/educational pieces in print format

Websites

Videos

Online Modules

Webinars / Chat Spaces

Social Media Channels / Campaigns

Newsletters

Digital Handbooks/Guides

Other informational/educational digital formats


To nominate a publication please complete an online nomination form containing the following:

  1. Letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP institution) describing the publication and its impact on parents and families of undergraduate students.

  2. Goals and/or outcomes measured by:

    • Statistics, quantity and distribution methods for printed publications (i.e. events where material is utilized, number distributed annually, how it is incorporated into engagement, etc.);

    • Data, analytics and engagement statistics for digital content (i.e. video viewers, social media channel/post analytics, website/page traffic, etc.)  Up to two additional letters of support (optional, but recommended).

    • Sample of printed publication or link to electronic/online publication. If applying in the print category, please mail a copy of your printed publication before May 1, to Sarah Joslyn, 149 Graff Main Hall, 1725 State Street, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI 54601 or Beth Ullum 1739 North High St. Suite 2008 Columbus, OH 43210. All printed and digital publications will be showcased during the 2021 Family Engagement in Higher Education Virtual Conference. 

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for EXCELLENCE IN PUBLICATION AND RESOURCES - Digital

Apply/Nominate for EXCELLENCE IN PUBLICATION AND RESOURCES - Print


POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP AWARD

This award acknowledges and encourages successful collaborations where partnerships may not have previously existed or are not typically occurring as they relate to parent/family engagement. The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding partnerships (internal and/or external) and to gather information about effective relationships that exist across institutional lines. The award also seeks to highlight how the program/initiative has positively impacted parents and family members.

To nominate a partnership, please submit the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide:

    1. A description of the nominated partnership;

    2. A description of the nominee’s impact on their campus/program and their commitment to the field of parent and family engagement.

  2. Additional supporting documents including, but not limited to, photos, marketing materials, or assessment data, analytics, and engagement statistics (optional, but recommended).

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for POWERFUL PARTNERSHIP AWARD


OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO RESEARCH AND/OR LITERATURE

This award recognizes a professional in the field of parent and family programs who has had an impact on the body of knowledge about, and practices of, engaging parents and families in an institution of higher learning, and whose achievements have advanced the profession.

The recipient should have published articles, survey analyses, and/or books/book chapters. The work should address parent engagement at the the post-secondary education level as it relates to/impacts student development and/or retention.

Note: Professionals may receive this award only once.

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide a description of the nominee’s accomplishments/contribution to research and/or literature and the manner in which the work addresses parent engagement.

  2. Sample of printed publication or link to electronic/online publication. Please email to Beth Ullum at [email protected] and Sarah Joslyn at [email protected]

Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO RESEARCH AND/OR LITERATURE


OUTSTANDING STUDENT

This award recognizes a graduate and/or undergraduate student who has impacted the parent and family program at their respective institution in some way. Examples include student assistants, tour guides, orientation leaders or other positions held by a current student. 
Nominations are encouraged even if student recipients are unable to attend the conference. However, we do offer a student registration rate.

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide details of the student’s accomplishments or impact as it relates to enhancing the parent and family program.

Nominations must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for OUTSTANDING STUDENT


OUTSTANDING NEW PROFESSIONAL (0-4 years of service)

This award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated service to AHEPPP, and/or to the parent and family programming profession. Nominees can have no more than four years of professional experience in the field of parent and family programming.

The Outstanding New Professional is selected based on their ability to demonstrate commitment to the field of parent and family engagement through two or more of the following criteria:

  • Innovative contributions to the individual’s institution;

  • Active involvement in AHEPPP and/or other student affairs professional organizations;

  • Demonstrates leadership within the profession/amongst their peers;

  • And/or contributions to research/assessment initiatives, or publications.

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide a description of the nominee’s impact on their campus/program and their commitment to the field of parent and family engagement.

  2. Nominee’s bio, vita, résumé, or list of accomplishments in the field of parent and family engagement should be uploaded on the form.

Nominations must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021.

Apply/Nominate for OUTSTANDING NEW PROFESSIONAL


OUTSTANDING MID-LEVEL PROFESSIONAL (4-8 years of service)

This award recognizes a professional who has demonstrated service to AHEPPP, and/or to the parent and family programming profession. Nominees must have between four and eight years of professional experience in the field of parent and family programming.

The Outstanding Mid-Level Professional is selected based on their ability to demonstrate commitment to the field of parent and family engagement through two or more of the following criteria:

  • Innovative contributions to the individual’s institution;

  • Active involvement in AHEPPP and/or other student affairs professional organizations;

  • Indication of significant promise for future leadership roles in the student affairs profession,

  • And/or research/assessment initiatives, or publications.

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide a description of the nominee’s impact on their campus/program and their commitment to the field of parent and family engagement.

  2. Nominee’s bio, vita, résumé, or list of accomplishments in the field of parent and family engagement should be uploaded on the form.

Nominations must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for OUTSTANDING MID-LEVEL PROFESSIONAL


OUTSTANDING SENIOR-LEVEL PROFESSIONAL (9 or more years of service)

This award recognizes a professional who has demonstrated service to AHEPPP, and/or to the parent and family programming profession. Nominees must have at least 9 years of professional experience in the field of parent and family programming.

The Outstanding Senior-Level Professional is selected based on their ability to demonstrate commitment to the field of parent and family engagement through two or more of the following criteria:

  • Innovative contributions to the individual’s institution;

  • Active involvement in AHEPPP and/or other student affairs professional organizations;

  • Indication of significant promise for future leadership roles in the student affairs profession,

  • And/or research/assessment initiatives, or publications.

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

  1. At least one letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide a description of the nominee’s impact on their campus/program and their commitment to the field of parent and family engagement.

  2. Nominee’s bio, vita, résumé, or list of accomplishments in the field of parent and family engagement should be uploaded on the form.

Nominations must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for OUTSTANDING SENIOR LEVEL PROFESSIONAL


AHEPPP FOUNDERS’ OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL AWARD (10+ years of service)

The AHEPPP Founders’ Outstanding Professional Award is an opportunity to recognize a professional in the field of parent and family programs who has made an influential impact on the body of knowledge about, and the practices of, engaging parents and families in an institution of higher learning. Nominees must have a minimum of ten years of professional experience in the field of parent and family programming. This award is different than the Outstanding Senior-Level Professional Award as it honors contributions that have impacted the entire profession and/or association in addition to the criteria set forth for the Senior-Level Award. Nominees not selected for this award will automatically be considered for the Outstanding Senior-Level Professional Award. 

The AHEPPP Founders’ Outstanding Professional is selected based on their ability to demonstrate commitment to the field of parent and family engagement through two or more of the following criteria:

  • Innovative contributions to the individual’s institution;

  • Active involvement in AHEPPP (e.g. served as a conference volunteer, on committees, published on the AHEPPP blog, served on the Board of Directors, etc);

  • Indication of significant promise for future leadership roles in the student affairs profession,

  • And/or research/assessment initiatives, or publications (Published articles, survey analyses, chapters and/or books addressing parent engagement at the post-secondary education level as it relates to, or impacts, student development and/or retention)

Nominations are strengthened by meeting any of the following criteria:

  • Established best practices in parent and family engagement through the development or contribution to updating the CAS Standards, and/or creation of widely used programs or initiatives;

  • Demonstrated services to members of the organization or peers within the profession (e.g. participated in the mentor program, collaborated with individuals from other institutions to develop programs/initiatives, presented at national conferences, etc.)

  • Advanced the profession through other professional achievements.

The Founders’ Outstanding Professional Award recipient may receive this award only once. Nominees for this award are evaluated by a separate panel comprised of AHEPPP Founders, past winners, and/or Board Members. 

To nominate an individual, please submit the following:

  1. Letter of nomination (must be a staff member of an AHEPPP member institution). This letter should provide a description of the nominee’s impact on their campus/program and their commitment to the field of parent and family engagement.

  2. Letter of support from a colleague (not direct supervisor) who can speak to the nominee’s impact on the field of Parent and Family Programming.

  3. Nominee’s bio, vita, or résumé should be uploaded on the form

  4. Additional supporting documents including, but not limited to, photos, videos, presentations, publications or assessment data (optional, but recommended).

Nominations must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2021. 

Apply/Nominate for FOUNDERS’ OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL AWARD