Assessment

Excellence in Performance 

Excellence in Program Effectiveness: This award recognizes evidence-based efforts which break new ground in addressing student needs and/or critical campus issues. This award honors an individual or group of individuals who demonstrate effective use of assessment strategies and best practice research in their efforts to improve student life at Boston College.

Specific criteria:

Evidence-based
Grounded in research
Conditions improve as a result of the program
Breaks new ground

Excellence in Supervision: The excellence in supervision award is given annually to an outstanding supervisor within the division of student affairs who empowers staff or students to be their best. This individual is fair and consistent in his/her actions, develops individual plans for personal formation with staff or students, communicates clear expectations and holds staff and student workers accountable, and treats all colleagues with dignity and respect. 

Specific criteria:

Must be a supervisor
Show evidence (real examples) of outstanding supervision
Show evidence of empowering staff or students
Holds staff or students accountable

Outstanding Collaboration: This award may be presented to an individual, team, or department within the division that successfully demonstrates collaboration across departments to better serve our students, the division, or the University.  Successful nominees will demonstrate careful planning and use of research and best practice methods to promote student learning. Examples may include initiating a new program, planning an innovative event, or offering a new service in conjunction with another group or groups on campus. 

Specific criteria:

Evidence of collaboration beyond just sponsorship or inviting others to join or participate
Innovative
Collaboration starts at the planning stage

Integrity Award: This award is given to the person who demonstrates integrity in all aspects of self and professional practice. The award may be presented to an individual who actively identifies ethical issues, assists students and colleagues in ethical decision-making, and appropriately addresses issues that are not consistent with professional ethics. This person is not afraid to take a stand when a difficult issue arises, and is recognized by many as someone who engenders trust, confidence, and tact in personal and professional relationships.

Specific criteria:

Actively identifies ethical issues
Assists students and colleagues in ethical decision-making
Appropriately addresses issues that are not consistent with professional ethics

Service to the Profession Award: This award recognizes an individual within the division who demonstrates significant contributions to the student affairs profession while maintaining high quality work within the division. Contributions may include service to state, regional, or national professional associations; publication of best practices or original research; or presentation at professional conferences.

Specific criteria:

High quality work both within the division and outside of division
Evidence of publications/presentations (material submitted with nomination)
Service in professional associations (regional chair, knowledge community, etc.)
Both breadth and depth

Excellence in Service Award: This award recognizes the contributions of a staff member, group or office who works to make procedures, services, facilities, programs, and/or the general Boston College learning environment a welcoming, efficient, and high quality experience for students. The recipient(s) goes above and beyond to enhance students’ experiences at Boston College while thoughtfully balancing educational needs and customer service. Others, especially students, may comment on the helpfulness, professionalism and assistance of these individuals or group and on their willingness to create a positive, active and inclusive learning community.

Specific criteria:

Go above and beyond for a welcoming environment
Innovative
Evidence that things have changed because of service
The benefit of service is students’ learning

Living the Mission Award: This award is given to a member of the Division of Student Affairs who has been a leader in facilitating student learning and formation and has worked to advance the Jesuit, Catholic values of Boston College.  This award recognizes an employee who best exemplifies excellence in providing services or creating programs that help integrate students’ intellectual, spiritual and social realms.

Specific criteria:

The person embodies the spirit and essence of St. Ignatius
Integrates all aspects of the mission
Helps students integrate the various aspects of their lives on campus
Shows impact

Diversity Award: The Diversity Award recognizes the efforts of staff that strive to promote understanding and appreciation of diversity in its multitude of forms. The award may be presented to a person, group, or program that a) helps build an environment of inclusivity and awareness; b) supports the education of issues of diversity and social justice; and c) engages members of the BC community in dialogue and conversation around issues of race, religion, gender, identity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, mental disability, or physical disability.

Specific criteria:

Committed to a spirit of pluralism
Provides educational and/or professional development opportunities to students and/or staff about diversity, multiculturalism, and social justice
Nurtures an environment of openness, tolerance, and inclusion
Celebrates the unique qualities within the student population and the Division of Student Affairs
Incorporates diverse perspectives into program planning and implementation

Award for Integrated Learning: This award recognizes a faculty member or academic administrator outside of the division who has effectively contributed to the integration of the academic and co-curricular experiences of Boston College students.  Examples could include advising a non-academic group, accompanying students on a service-related or cultural trip, or showing special support of co-curricular learning opportunities for students.  This faculty member may have also engaged in a successful partnership with staff from the Division of Student Affairs.

Specific criteria:

Evidence of integrating student experiences
Collaboration

Excellence in Marketing and Communications: This award recognizes the efforts of a staff member, team or department to promote a particular student program, event or campaign with regards to level of creativity, strength and consistency of message, outreach, and student engagement.

Specific criteria:

Creative messaging
Coordinated strategy
Adherence to BC communications standards
Advances student awareness and interaction with a particular program or initiative

Innovative Use of Social Media Strategy: This award recognizes a staff member, team or department that has demonstrated a thorough understanding of social media and has utilized social media marketing to increase brand awareness and student engagement.

Specific criteria:

Creativity
Evidence of student engagement
Coordinated strategy

Excellence in Service Award: This award recognizes the contributions of a Graduate Assistant who works to make procedures, services, facilities, programs, and/or the general Boston College learning environment a welcoming, efficient, and high quality experience for students. The recipient goes above and beyond to enhance students’ experiences at Boston College while thoughtfully balancing educational needs and customer service. Others may comment on the helpfulness, professionalism and assistance of this individual and on his or her willingness to create a positive, active, and inclusive learning community.

Specific criteria:

Goes above and beyond to create a welcoming environment for students
Is actively involved in the academic and/or personal development of students
Promotes student development through individual guidance and assistance, along with intentional and effective programming
Integrates theories and knowledge gained in the classroom into everyday practice

Innovation Award: This award recognizes a Graduate Assistant who demonstrates innovation in developing or enhancing programs and/or services that meet the changing needs of Boston College’s student population. This individual has an ability to problem-solve and be creative with the use of people, resources, budgets, and/or technology. This award celebrates innovation in action—not only the creative idea, but also the impact of the idea on practical application.

Specific criteria:

Puts forth new, creative initiatives with thoughtful consideration and planning
Thinks ‘outside of the box’ and uses his or her ideas to broaden the scope of programs and services in the Division
Forward-thinking and willing to thoughtfully challenge tradition in order to create a progressive and engaging environment for both students and staff

Living the Mission: This award is given to a Graduate Assistant within the division of student affairs who has been a leader in facilitating student learning and formation and has worked to advance the Jesuit, Catholic values of Boston College. This award recognizes a Graduate Assistant who best exemplifies excellence in providing services or creating programs that help integrate students' intellectual, spiritual, and social realms. Specific criteria: the person embodies the spirit and essence of St. Ignatius, integrates all aspects of the mission, helps students integrate the various aspects of their lives on campus, and shows impact. 

Specific criteria:

The person embodies the spirit and essence of St. Ignatius
Integrates all aspects of the mission
Helps students integrate the various aspects of their lives on campus
Shows impact