Individuals as well as teams can be nominated for all of the following categories except for the Undergraduate or Graduate Dean’s Medalists, which are individual awards.

Distinguished Staff

Criteria

The Distinguished Staff Award honors staff members for their outstanding achievements, service, leadership and dedication to the College of the Environment and the University of Washington. Nominations will be evaluated on the evidence of a demonstration of excellence in one or more of the following categories:

  • Collaboration: Has made an outstanding achievement or provides ongoing excellence through effective collaboration.
  • Innovation: Has created lasting change through implementing an innovative solution to a complex problem or driving a significant effort that enhanced service and/or efficiency.
  • Impact: Has made a significant impact at the UW. The results of the impact can be at the team, department or institution level or have helped a specific audience or community.
  • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Accessibility: Has contributed to building welcoming and respectful learning and working environments and/or whose work promotes access, opportunity and justice.
  • Career achievement: Has dedicated many years of service to the UW and has demonstrated excellence throughout their career.

Eligibility

Nominees must be College of the Environment staff members who hold a 50% or greater permanent appointment, have been employed at the University for a minimum of six months as of the nomination deadline, and have not previously received the College’s Distinguished Staff Member Award. Nominees who are not chosen in a given year may be nominated again in subsequent years.

Exceptional Mentoring of Undergraduates

Criteria

Nominees should demonstrate significant contributions to the development of undergraduate student research and the intellectual vibrancy of the College of the Environment. Nominations will be evaluated on the evidence of one or more of the following:

  • recruiting and engaging undergraduate students outside the formal classroom setting including research not encompassed within the objectives of a class,
  • inspiring independent and original thinking in students,
  • creating a supportive environment for students to engage in independent research,
  • promoting successful completion and showcasing of students’ research,
  • directing and connecting students to resources and networks necessary to take full advantage of academic and professional opportunities,
  • other similar efforts.

Eligibility

Nominees must be current College of the Environment graduate students, postdocs, staff or faculty who have not previously received the College’s Exceptional Mentoring of Undergraduates Award. Nominees who are not chosen in a given year may be nominated again in subsequent years. (For students, “current” includes students who were enrolled during this academic year but who have graduated this academic year, e.g., at the end of fall or winter quarters.)

Graduate Dean’s Medalist

Criteria

Nominations will be evaluated on the evidence of outstanding academic achievement, including research, overall GPA and other measurable academic achievements, as well as outstanding leadership or service, including teaching, community service and leadership on or off campus.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a current College of the Environment graduate student who has not previously received the College’s Graduate Dean’s Medalist Award. Nominees who are not chosen in a given year may be nominated again in subsequent years. “Current” includes students who were enrolled during this academic year but who have graduated this academic year. (e.g., at the end of fall or winter quarters)

Outstanding Community Impact

Criteria

This award recognizes stakeholder engagement that stimulates, inspires, and drives interactive uses of environmental science and information to impact the broader community. the quality of life locally, nationally or internationally.  Evaluation criteria include the nature and extent of the public service activity, the amount of time and effort involved, and its lasting impact. Examples of relevant work include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

  • working with communities to change management of natural resources;
  • bringing diverse groups of people together to address a common problem;
  • developing business, economic or industry solutions through hands-on interaction and collaboration;
  • affecting or changing city, local or state policies and/or processes; and
  • sharing research work with outside audiences through community presentations, open publication, citizen science, or other public engagement efforts in order to increase science literacy.

Eligibility

Nominees must be current College of the Environment staff, faculty, postdoc or student acting within their role in the College, who have not previously received the College’s Outstanding Community Impact Award. Nominees who are not chosen in a given year may be nominated again in subsequent years.

Outstanding Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility

Criteria

Within the College of the Environment, we aim to cultivate a community in which all members feel valued, represented, and respected, as well as enabled and supported to achieve their personal, professional, and academic goals. Nominations for the Outstanding Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility (DEIJA) Award will be evaluated on the evidence of a commitment to advancing DEIJA within the College, including going above and beyond the nominee’s position description. Evidence may include one or more of the following:

  • actively enhanced the recruitment and retention of a diverse body of students, staff, postdocs, and/or faculty;
  • engaged in innovative curriculum and program development across communities of difference;
  • advanced diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility through academic research and scholarship;
  • developed experiential or immersive learning that expands consciousness and responsibility related to social justice;
  • successfully pursued grants that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility;
  • advised individual students or student organizations and created pathways to success; or
  • other similar efforts.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a current College of the Environment student, staff, postdoc, or faculty member who have not previously received the College’s Outstanding Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility Award. Nominees who are not chosen in a given year may be nominated again in subsequent years. (For students, “current” includes students who were enrolled during this academic year but who have graduated this academic year, e.g., at the end of fall or winter quarters.)

Outstanding Teaching

Criteria

The Outstanding Teaching Award is presented in recognition of teaching that richly exemplifies the high standards at the heart of the academic mission of the College of the Environment. Nominations will be evaluated on the evidence of superior efforts, dedication, and exemplary conduct in the performance the education of our students. Evidence may include one or more of the following:

  • an iterative, reflective teaching practice with evidence of pedagogical experimentation and refinement over time;
  • commitment to inclusive teaching and mentoring and valuing students’ experiences;
  • dedication to creating transformative learning experiences that foster deep reflection and critical inquiry;
  • demonstration of enthusiasm and innovation in the teaching and learning process;
  • service as a mentor, collaborator, and consultant to other faculty and/or teaching assistants;
  • ability to engage students both inside and outside of the classroom;
  • aptitude to inspire independent and original thinking in students;
  • ability to stimulate students to do creative work;
  • innovations in course and curriculum design; or
  • other similar efforts.

Eligibility

College of the Environment faculty, lecturers, and instructors, who have not previously received the College’s Outstanding Teaching Award. Nominees who are not chosen in a given year may be nominated again in subsequent years.

Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist

Criteria

Nominations will be evaluated on the evidence of outstanding academic achievement, including research, overall GPA and other measurable academic achievements, as well as outstanding leadership or service, including community service and leadership on or off campus.

Eligibility

College of the Environment undergraduate seniors who are eligible to participate in the annual UW Commencement Ceremony in June. The Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist will be invited to serve as the College of the Environment gonfaloniere, the student who carries the college’s gonfalon, or banner, and leads the college’s degree candidates in the procession at the UW Commencement Ceremony. The nominating unit should confirm the student nominee’s eligibility to participate in the Commencement Ceremony prior to submitting the nomination. Ineligible nominees will not be considered by the review committee.