Golich Awards

A successful application will clearly describe contributions to student learning through innovative online teaching and course design practices as well as service and scholarly contributions to the field.

Examples of such innovative teaching and course design include, but are not limited to:

1. Unique and effective online instructional practices
2. Extraordinary overall course design
3. Well-developed individual course materials
4. Eemarkable contributions virtual teaching and learning
5. Innovative use of instructional technology
6. Research or service toward the advancement of online education.

Applicants will be reviewed by a selection committee comprising of members from the Center of Teaching, Learning, and Development, Online Learning, and former award winners. All applicants will be notified when a winner is chosen.

Candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague, chair, dean, or student. Applicants must not be nominated anonymously.

Submission Materials and Review Process

Complete this online form and upload one Word or PDF file which should include all required submission materials. Award applications should be no longer than 4 pages and must be submitted through this online form.

Required materials to provide include:

• A teaching and learning philosophy statement. This statement should include, but is not limited to, a discussion of the challenges, strategies, and goals of online course design and instruction, what makes the applicant’s course(s) and teaching practice uniquely exceptional, and the impact of the applicants teaching on student success.
• A summary of online courses taught including the course prefix & number, title, semester taught, instructional method, census enrollment.

Optional materials to provide include:

• Up to three pieces of digitally-available evidence of exceptional online teaching practices, course design practices, or efforts within online education, including but not limited to: selected components of course syllabi, handouts, assignment descriptions, student work, direct samples from online discussions, video clips, assignment rubrics, instructional tools/technologies built by the applicant, accessibility efforts, innovative methods of assessing student learning and achievement, peer evaluations, student mentoring and advising, peer mentoring, and/or service and scholarship relevant to promoting and improving online education.
• One or two letters of support from someone with direct experience of the applicant’s online course(s) and teaching practice (current or past students, or a colleague knowledgeable about the applicant’s work).

Any questions regarding the nomination process or view should be directed to Allie Dirks ([email protected]).

Nominate here.

Assistance
For more information about the Excellence in Online Teaching Award, contact Allie Dirks at [email protected].

Please consider nominating full-time, undergraduate academic advisors who:

1. Delivers advising techniques and approaches that embodies the mission and vision of MSU Denver.

1. • Include at least one example of how this is put into practice.
2. Are engaged in student retention.
   • This includes retention initiatives that the nominee has/is engaged in and their use of technology, and that the nominee is tracking or has tracked results.
   • Include at least one example of how this is/was put into practice.
3. Actively participate in optional academic-advisor trainings and/or advising professional-development opportunities.
   • Please outline how the nominee has applied this information in advising sessions and/or outreach initiatives.
   • Include at least one example of how this is put into practice.
4. Demonstrate appropriate student-referral activity.
   • This includes referring students to faculty and other student-support services on campus.
   • Include at least one example of how this is put into practice.

Submit your nominations for the Outstanding Professional Advisor award here. The submission deadline is Nov. 3, 2023.

Nominate a colleague for the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award by Friday, December 8.

Eligibility: Any individual whose primary responsibility is teaching and who spends a portion of their time providing academic advising to students. Nominations must:

1. Describe the nominee’s strong and demonstrated knowledge of institutional academic policies and procedures when advising students.
2. Describe how the nominee’s advising technique(s) and approach(es) embodies the mission and vision of MSU Denver.
3. Include examples of outreach or participation in academic-advising initiatives outside of an advising appointment. Examples include but are not limited to appointment campaigns, email outreach, phone-call outreach, workshops or department advising events, registration events, etc. Please note any use of advising technology in these efforts.
4. Describe the nominee’s practices and evidence of success in student retention with advisees or students in class. Please include the use of technology (e.g., SSC Navigate, Degree Works, or other systems) to document and/or track successes.

Nominations should be submitted electronically via this form by Friday, December 8. Nominations, not to exceed 2 pages in length, should specifically address the ways in which the nominee has achieved excellence in one or more of the four areas identified above. The recipient will be celebrated at the “Roadrunners Who Soar” event during the spring semester.

Each year MSU Denver recognizes an Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research. The award is part of the 2024 Roadrunner’s Who Soar Golich Awards and is open to MSU Denver faculty members or staff who have positively influenced undergraduate research through their own research and scholarly or creative projects with undergraduates, whether inside or outside the classroom.

Submit a nomination. 

The Council of Chairs & Directors and the Office of Academic Affairs would like to announce that nominations are now open for the Department Chairs Excellence Award.

Purpose and Guidelines
The intent of this award is to recognize one chair each year who has done demonstrably excellent work in his or her role as chair.

The nominee must currently be a department chair and must have completed one year or more as chair to be eligible.

The successful nominee is one who demonstrates success in at least one of the following areas:

1. Demonstration of outstanding leadership
2. Demonstration of curricular innovation
3. Promotion of student success
4. Overall contribution toward achievement of the College and/or University Mission

Nominations
Nominations can come from anyone. A chair may self-nominate, or a nomination can come from any student, faculty, staff member or other member of the university community. The nomination would need to address how the nominee demonstrates the areas outlined above.

Award Screening Committee
The award screening committee will meet once per year to review candidates and determine a winner. The committee will be chaired by the Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs. The committee’s membership will consist of a representative from the deans, along with one chair representing each college/school in the university, and at least one faculty member from any college.

Procedures
Nominations should be submitted electronically using this form by Friday, December 15. Nominations, not to exceed 2 pages in length, should specifically address the ways in which the nominee has achieved excellence in one or more of the four areas identified above. The recipient will be celebrated at the “Roadrunners Who Soar” event during the spring semester.

The University-wide Roadrunners Who Soar Awards recognize individual employees who are living our shared CADRE values, supporting student success and serving as ambassadors for Metropolitan State University of Denver in the larger community. Meanwhile, the team awards will highlight core and cross-functional teams that are pursuing shared goals and creating an environment of empowerment and accountability.

Honorees and their nominators will receive invitations to the award ceremony on April 6, 2024, where award winners will be recognized among their peers and colleagues. 

Nominate excellent staff members 

The Staff Senate is accepting nominations to highlight amazing MSU Denver staff members. The Staff Excellence Award recognizes outstanding work and is open to any staff member—administrative, classified and student—who has worked at MSU Denver for at least one semester. 

Nominators should provide specific examples of how the nominee demonstrates commitment to the MSU Denver community and our mission. The mission of MSU Denver is to provide a high-quality, accessible, enriching education that prepares students for successful careers, post-graduate education and lifelong learning in a multicultural, global, and technological society. Please give examples of their excellence in action! If selected, this information will be used to honor the nominee.  

One winner will be selected in each of the following categories: 

• Administrator 
• Classified 
• Student employee 

Submit your nomination(s) today. Nominations are due by Dec. 8. Contact Emalie Whan-Traylor for more information.  

This award is presented to a supervisor who is an engaging and supportive role model for their student employees. They manage their team of students well and hold them accountable, while maintaining a work environment that is inclusive and collaborative.

Eligibility: The nominee has been a supervisor for at least one Semester. The nominee is one who demonstrates success in the following areas:

1. Role Model: A supervisor who demonstrates confidence and leadership. Encouraging students to be unique. Their positivity and accountability for themselves and others makes them excellent supervisors.

Prompt 1: How has this supervisor been a role model to you?

2. Authentic and inclusive: A supervisor who allows student employees to feel safe, secure, and comfortable showing up as their whole selves in the workplace. They make all student employees feel equally involved and supported in the workplace.

Prompt 2: Give an example of a time when your supervisor created an authentic and inclusive for their student employees.

3. Supportive and collaborative: A supervisor who is understanding and supportive of the student’s goals. Will always help students expand their knowledge and coach them to be the best they can be.

Prompt 3: How has this nominee created a supportive and collaborative environment?

4. Engaging and Transparent: A supervisor who is enthusiastic about the work they do and is committed to their students, employees, and their workplace. They are active listeners with their student employees and create many opportunities for learning. They value the input of their colleagues and student employees and leading with openness & honesty so that the students know exactly what is expected of them.

Prompt 4: How does this supervisor engage with their student employees?

Nomination instructions:

1. Please complete the nomination form by close of business on Dec. 2.

The Student Employee of the Year Award is presented to a student who is friendly, reliable and dependable. This student demonstrates commitment and growth in their position and goes beyond stated job duties by taking initiative and advancing the goals of the department.

Eligibility: The nominee must have worked at least one semester as a student employee. The nominee is one who demonstrates success in the following areas:

1. Reliability: Student that shows up when they are supposed to and takes responsibility for their assignments and meets deadlines. They show integrity by completing tasks and showing up even when a leader is not looking over their shoulder or offering praise.

Prompt 1: How does this student model reliability?

2. Leadership: A student employee who can get the ball rolling. They are always willing to offer a helping hand to fellow students who need it and always brainstorming innovative ideas for the team. They communicate well and have the flexibility to solve problems in the ever-changing workplace.

Prompt 2: Give an example of their strong leadership skills.

3. Critical Thinking: The student employee is capable of sorting through the details to gain a perspective that leads to an impactful decision, discovery, or a solution to a problem. This allows them and their supervisor to fix inconsistencies and utilize resources wisely.

Prompt 3: How does the student nominee show critical thinking in their workplace?

4. Work Ethic: A student employee who comes to work with a positive attitude and a desire to improve their skills and knowledge whenever they get the chance. They show a great deal of commitment and dedication to their job title.

Prompt 4: How does this student nominee show work ethic on a day-to-day basis?

5. Collaboration: A student employee who demonstrates open mindedness and communication. A team member who values the opinions of their colleagues and works together with them to achieve a common goal.

Prompt 5: Please explain a time when you saw this student collaborate with their team.

Nomination instructions:

1. Please complete the nomination form by close of business on Dec. 2.