Faculty and Staff Student Success Champion Awards

We’re excited to announce that nominations are now open for the second annual Faculty and Staff Champion Awards!Ìý

These awards celebrate Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty and staff who go above and beyond to support student success and make a positive impact in our campus community.Ìý

Winners will be honored at the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder Student Success Conference on Feb. 18, 2026. There are four award categories, each designed to recognize outstanding contributions to our shared mission.Ìý

Review the following for detailed descriptions of each award and the nomination criteria. We can’t wait to see your nominations and celebrate the incredible work happening across campus!Ìý

Nominations are due by Jan. 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.Ìý

For questions or additional information, please contact the Student Success Conference Awards Committee Chairs Jamie Petersen and Jason Hogstad.Ìý

Nomination Submission Guidelines

To submit a nomination, share a detailed description of specific work and accomplishments by the nominee that have impacted student success. Highlight how their efforts meet the criteria for the award category and the positive impact they’ve had on the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder community. All Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder faculty and staff can be nominated, and anyone from our campus community is welcome to submit a nomination.Ìý

Champion of Student Access, Belonging and Equity

This award honors an individual who has shown outstanding commitment to creating a more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming campus for everyone. The recipient demonstrates proactive support and advocacy that strengthens student success and fosters a sense of belonging for students, faculty, staff, and campus partners.

Nominees will be evaluated on the impact of their efforts to:Ìý

  • Improve the culture within their area or across campusÌý
  • Expand outreach to or engagement with underrepresented populationsÌý
  • Build a stronger sense of community and belongingÌý

This award celebrates those who make Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder a place where all feel valued and supported.Ìý

Award CriteriaÌý

Nominators should address the four following areas in their submission:Ìý

  • Demonstrates progress in fostering access, belonging and equity
  • Inspires or empowers others to respect and embrace different perspectives and ensure fairness and equity in everyday actions
  • Develops or improves outreach initiatives that connect underrepresented groups with campus resources, opportunities or programsÌý
  • Builds partnerships that foster belonging and access within the campus community or beyondÌý
  • Demonstrates success in creating pathways for underrepresented populations to engage more fully in campus life
  • Creates or provides significant support of programs, events or initiatives that enhance the sense of community and belonging for diverse populationsÌý
  • Demonstrates commitment to learning new ways to create a more welcoming and equitable campus
  • Actively fosters a more inclusive, equitable and welcoming environment within their area or across the campus communityÌýÌýÌý
  • Implements initiatives or programs that have a measurable and positive effect on the campus culture
  • Inspires or empowers others to value and prioritize access, belonging, and equity in their daily actionsÌý
  • Proactively advocates for the needs and interests of underrepresented populations, including students, faculty, staff and campus partnersÌý
  • Addresses barriers to access, equity or representation through innovative ideas or practical solutionsÌý
  • Acts as a role model and leader inspiring others to engage in advocacy and cultural changeÌý
  • Creates or provides significant support of programs, events or initiatives that enhance the sense of community and belonging for diverse populationsÌý
  • Demonstrates engagement with cross-campus partnersÌý
  • Demonstrates a sustained commitment to uplifting marginalized voices and communitiesÌý

Champion of Innovation & Creativity

This award honors someone who brings fresh ideas to life and finds creative ways to improve the student experience. It could be a new program, service or tool—or an innovative improvement to something that already exists.Ìý

The recipient shows initiative and resourcefulness, tackling challenges and improving processes in ways that help student success thrive on campus.

Award CriteriaÌý

Nominators should address the four following areas in their submission:Ìý

  • Uses imaginative thinking and a solution-focused mindset to tackle challenges
  • Demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness in overcoming obstaclesÌýÌý
  • Demonstrates initiative in proposing ideas that address unmet needs or improve processes
  • Advocates for transformative ideas that enhance the experience of students, staff or the broader Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØcommunityÌýÌýÌý
  • Exhibits creativity in suggesting or following through with novel ideas, accompanied by clear goals to assess viability ÌýÌý
  • Takes calculated risks to bring new ideas to fruition, even if the outcome was not as expectedÌýÌý
  • Demonstrates leadership by inspiring others to think creatively and embrace changeÌýÌýÌý
  • Embraces a ‘fail forward’ and growth mindset and learns from experimentsÌýÌýÌý
  • Demonstrated learning from the innovation attempt such as potential scalability or pilotÌý
  • Has presented innovation ideas to audiences on or beyond campus (e.g., at a conference, a presentation, etc.)Ìý
  • Creates new partnerships (including students, and/or internal or external to CU)
  • Leverages partnerships (internal or external to the university) to enrich and expand the scope of the innovative idea or solutionÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

Champion of Staff and University Support

This award honors someone who goes above and beyond to support colleagues and keep their department or our university running smoothly. They play a key role in making sure policies, processes and procedures work well—whether or not they interact directly with students.Ìý

Their efforts help create a strong, vibrant campus community by supporting the people and systems that make student success possible.Ìý

Award CriteriaÌý

Nominators should address the four following areas in their submission:Ìý

  • Demonstrates outstanding organizational, administrative or technical support that enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of their unit or the universityÌýÌý
  • Identifies and resolves challenges in processes, workflows or systems proactively
  • Demonstrates initiative in improving policies, procedures or systems to meet evolving organizational needs at CUÌýÌýÌý
  • Centers and supports the university personnel experienceÌýÌý
  • Applies inclusive practices in supervision or program oversightÌýÌý
  • Exhibits leadership in their role, regardless of formal title or position, by fostering collaboration and driving positive changeÌýÌýÌý
  • Demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities

Supports and enhances processes or initiatives that directly or indirectly benefit students, faculty or staffÌý

Champion of Student Support

This award honors an individual who sets the gold standard for supporting students and creating a welcoming, inclusive campus. It recognizes someone who goes above and beyond to help students thrive while fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered.ÌýÌý

Award CriteriaÌý

Nominators should address the four following areas in their submission:Ìý

  • Demonstrates exceptional dedication to assisting students in achieving their personal, academic or professional goalsÌýÌý
  • Centers and supports the student experienceÌýÌý
  • Goes above and beyond to provide resources, guidance or interventions that directly enhance student well-being and successÌý
  • Prioritizes and/or creates inclusive practices in student supportÌý
  • Addresses challenges or barriers faced by students with empathy and effective problem-solvingÌýÌý
  • Implements strategies or practices that make student services more accessible and welcoming for all, including underrepresented populationsÌýÌý
  • Encourages a culture of belonging by celebrating the unique identities, backgrounds and experiences of the student bodyÌýÌýÌý
  • Implements strategies or practices that make student services more accessible and welcoming for all, including underrepresented populations.Ìý
  • Develops or enhances programs, tools or services that improve the quality of student supportÌýÌý
  • Introduces creative solutions to meet emerging student needs or address gaps in current resourcesÌýÌýÌý
  • Provides mentorship, training or guidance to others in the campus community to improve collective efforts in student supportÌýÌý
  • Demonstrates leadership in advancing initiatives or policies that align with the university’s mission to support student success and inclusionÌýÌý
  • Collaborates across the campus community—including faculty, staff, student organizations, and other partners—to enhance and support the student experienceÌý