SPA Award Descriptions

Area Wide Awards

SPA Campus Impact Award

The SPA Campus Impact Award is intended to recognize a new professional who has been in their current position on campus for less than 5 years, but in that time has had a significant impact on campus. Nominees should have demonstrated a record of excellence in student services or have developed new, creative and effective programs for addressing student needs. The amount of the award is $500.

SPA Frontline Award

The SPA Frontline Award recognizes frontline staff who positively influence students’ experiences with campus. Nominees should have demonstrated commitment to serving students on a day-in and day-out basis in a professional and caring manner. The recipient is either the first person a student meets in offices, or a person who works "behind the scenes" in the successful operation of a program or unit. The amount of the award is $500.

SPA Future Leader in Student Affairs Award

The Future Leader in Student Affairs award is meant to recognize an undergraduate or graduate student who has provided exceptional service to students during their time on campus. Service can include both paid work as well as unpaid student leadership positions. The amount of the award is $500.

Edgewood College Affiliated Awards

Student Development Award for Outstanding Service to Students

This award recognizes a professional staff member who provides direct service to students in the field of student affairs and who have a minimum of 3 years of service at Edgewood College. Award criteria include a nominee who: is recognized throughout campus as a leader in providing distinguished service to students and to the College community, has a demonstrated record of excellence in their own area, has made distinctive contributions to the College as a whole (for example, committee work or volunteer work beyond the scope of their office), professional involvement in organizations related to their job outside of campus, provides service to students grounded in the Dominican values.

Madison College Affiliated Awards

Student Affairs & Institutional Effectiveness Award for Outstanding Achievement

This award recognizes a staff member within Student Affairs & Institutional Effectiveness at Madison College for outstanding achievement in the field of student development. The recipient will be an individual who has demonstrated excellence in their work and commitment to the growth and development of students at Madison College. Nominees for the award will have a record of distinguished achievement in developing new, innovative, creative and effective programs for meeting student development needs. Nominees are recognized throughout the college as leaders who provide distinguished service to students and the college community. In addition to meeting Madison College’s values of respect, a commitment to diverse communities, and making higher education available to all, the nominees must have a demonstrated a record of excellence in their Madison College career, innovation through the creation of new initiative that have supported student access and/or success, and commitment to students beyond the scope of their own position.

UW-Madison Affiliated Awards

Excellence in Higher Education Administration

This award is made possible by the Division of Student Affairs at UW-Madison. Nominees for this award will be evaluated on effective qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as a leader in student services. A minimum of 5 years on the UW-Madison campus is recommended. Evidence may include, but is not limited to, strong interpersonal skills, availability to constituents, frequency of contact with colleagues and students, activities appropriate to the integration of students and staff, positive attitude and collaborative effort which contributes to student affairs environment (students and colleagues), behavior which builds strong relationships, mastery of institutional regulations, policies and procedures, attendance at and support of student programs. The amount of the award is $500.

Leadership in Social Justice Award

This award is made possible by the Division of Student Affairs at UW-Madison. This recognition will be given to an individual who has demonstrated leadership and courage while initiating, creating and supporting a more socially-just learning and work environment for students and staff, whether within or beyond the scope of current position. Examples of such work include: ensuring inclusive and respectful environments for all people, making others aware of injustices, and advocating on a continuous basis for institutional efforts to address social injustices. The individual should have a clear record of fostering an open, positive, and inclusive campus community. Moreover, the recipient of the award should demonstrate a sense of commitment, spirit, and integrity to social justice both professionally and personally. The amount of the award is $500.

Norman Bassett Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Higher Education Administration

The Norman Bassett Foundation makes it possible for us to offer two awards for outstanding achievement in student services. In acknowledgement of the generous support of the foundation, these awards are named after Norman Bassett. Nominees should be able to show a record of excellence in student services work over a long period of time (minimum of 10 years on the UW-Madison campus recommended), and/or distinguished achievement in developing new, creative and effective programs for meeting student needs. Candidates that meet both criteria will be considered more favorably. The amount of each award is $500.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Award

This award is made possible by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. Nominees should be recognized throughout campus as leaders in providing distinguished service to the university community and student services. They should show a record of excellence in their own areas, as well as distinctive contributions to the university as a whole (for example, committee work or volunteer work beyond the scope of their offices). Nominees should have been on staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison a minimum of 15 years. Professional involvement and recognition in professional organizations outside the campus are factors for nominees. Nominees for this award are recognized for distinctive contributions in all aspects of their professional and personal lives. The total amount of the award is $1,000.