The President’s Inclusive Excellence annual awards honor individuals and units who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and made significant contributions to advancing inclusive excellence within our diverse University of Colorado community. These awards are open to people and units who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and achievement in advancing the university’s strategic goals that enhance CU’s ability to innovate, solve problems, and serve diverse constituencies, integrate inclusive strategies into structures, remove barriers and create pathways to success, while creating environments where people feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute. We strongly encourage individuals and departments from all areas of the university to apply for these awards.

Awards: Four awards may be given each year. Recipients of this honor receive $2,000 and a commemorative award.

Selection Process: Nominations will be reviewed by the President’s Awards Committee which includes representatives from each CU campus.

Who May Nominate:

Nominations are welcome from any employee or student of the university. Self-nominations are not allowed, and previous winners are not eligible for nomination.

Nominators will be asked to notify their nominee of their recommendation so that they can reserve the award reception on their calendars.

Past President's Award Recipients

Eligibility

Nominations are sought in four categories:

  1. Full-time faculty*
  2. Staff
  3. Student**
  4. Unit***​

*Full-time CU faculty includes tenured faculty, tenured track faculty, IRC faculty (instructional, research, and clinical
** Undergraduate or Graduate Student
***Unit refers to academic or administrative offices; faculty, staff, and student committees; and organizations (e.g. alumni) directly associated with CU.

Candidates for the award should be engaged in meaningful activities beyond their primary responsibilities at the university. Nominees may demonstrate this commitment and impact in a variety of areas, for example: student-centered or trainee-centered initiatives; efforts to support the recruitment, retention and development of faculty, staff, and/or students from underrepresented groups; teaching, research, and/or service that embraces, fosters and expands and understanding of engagement and community; programming or related initiatives; or community activities.

Selection Criteria

  • Significance - How has the nominee(s) demonstrated leadership and commitment to the development, embedding and sustainability of inclusive excellence within their CU community?

  • Innovation – How has the nominee’s contribution uniquely addressed key needs, challenges or issues of inclusive excellence within their CU community and/or throughout the CU System? 

  • Impact - What have been the measurable outcomes? How has this project/program/activity “moved the needle” in addressing inclusive excellence?  Has this project/program/activity been replicated or are there plans to replicate it at other departments, campuses, or institutions?

Nomination Process

Nomination packets must be submitted online as a single pdf document.

Nomination packets must include:

  1. Nomination letter not to exceed two (2) pages single spaced that addresses the selection criteria from the lead nominator(s), with CU affiliation as faculty, staff or students.
  2. Up to three letters of support.
  • Additional letters of support which may come from alumni, faculty, staff, student, or community members.
  • For unit nominations, letters of support must be from individuals outside the nominated unit.

  3. Up to two (2) supporting materials*.

*Examples of supporting materials may include: a letter or testimonial from service or program recipients; a copy of a flyer or media coverage about the initiative, event or program; a report and/or data demonstrating the outcome; and summary of or link to other written or multimedia materials documenting the activity. Supporting documents must be included electronically in the nomination form for full consideration.

Self-nominations are not accepted.

Nomination Guidelines

The following guidelines are provided to assist the nominator in preparing a competitive nomination packet:

For all nominations:

  • Nominators should indicate how they know the nominee and for what length of time. For unit nominations, the nominator should indicate how they are familiar with the work of the unit.

For faculty, staff and unit nominations:

  • Nomination materials should address how the work of the nominee goes above and beyond what is expected as part of the individual’s CU responsibilities or the unit’s primary mission or function.
  • ​Nomination materials should provide a brief description of the nominee’s role or position within the university or, for unit nominations, the unit’s primary mission or function within the university.

Timeline and Award Notification

  • November 11, 2024: Nomination Period Opens

  • January 17, 2025: Nomination Period Closes

  • Mid-March, 2025: Awardees Notified 

  • April 17, 2025: President's Inclusive Excellence (IE) Award Reception - 2:30pm-4:30pm at 1800 Grant Street

Questions?

If you need additional information, please email systemdei@cu.edu.

Submit a President's Inclusive Excellence Award Nomination