Purpose and Background

The School of Public Health Excellence in Advising Award recognizes School of Public Health faculty who are particularly outstanding in their roles as academic, field experience, or project/thesis advisors. The School of Public Health strives to provide advising that promotes collaboration among students, staff, and faculty to enhance students’ academic and professional development in the field of public health.

The school recognizes its outstanding advisors as a tribute to their special qualities and their dedication. With this award, the school emphasizes the importance of advising in the university and for the future of public health. This award recognizes faculty who have given generously of their time, intellect, and wisdom to encourage students’ academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to the field.

The Award

The recipient’s achievements will be commemorated with a plaque, a permanent display in the school’s administrative offices, and a cash award of $3,000. No more than one award will be given in any single year. The award will be presented at the annual School of Public Health Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration.

Eligibility

School faculty with a record of at least three years advising in the School of Public Health are eligible. Faculty may be on 9-month, 12-month or have adjunct appointments with the School of Public Health. Previous winners are not eligible for a second award.

Nominator

To nominate someone for this award, you must be a member of the School of Public Health faculty, staff, or student body.

Evaluation Criteria

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” -William Butler Yeats

The successful nominee will have at least three years advising experience with the school that demonstrates breadth of experience (advising across multiple programs and experience with different types of advising roles) and exceeds quality expectations.

The SPH has set minimum standards for faculty advising. Faculty advisors are expected to:

• Review program objectives and educational documents at least on an annual basis, (i.e. Student Guidebook, etc.), or when directed by major coordinator or major chair/Director of Graduate Studies
• Actively contribute to a welcoming and supportive SPH climate
• Initiate meetings with advisee at least once per semester; regularly communicate with students on program progress
• Respond to student inquiries in a timely manner (ideally within 5-7 business days)
• Provide reasonable office hours and/or appointments and be generally available to student inquiries; communicate with students about extended absences or travel
• Serve as a model and example of respectful behavior
• Provide referrals to school and university resources when appropriate (e.g. Student Mental Health Services)
• Refer advisee to program major coordinator for course planning/scheduling, policy and procedural information

Successful nominee for this award should exceed these expectations and demonstrate that in their advising roles they have:

• Demonstrated a sustained commitment to students through advising in multiple roles (i.e. academic, field experience, major project/thesis) and across degree programs
• Challenged students to go beyond what they thought was possible in academic excellence and rigor
• Engaged students in the process of acquiring the skills necessary to complete superior projects or theses and establish the competencies necessary for their future public health careers
• Helped students set realistic expectations, stay on track and overcome personal and professional challenges to successful completion of their degrees
• Facilitate students’ progress toward educational and career goals
• Stimulated students’ intellectual growth and development

Nomination Process

Annual awards nominations for the 2024-2025 academic year should be submitted through the online nomination form. The submission deadline is April 4, 2025.

Nominations must include the following documentation:

• A letter of nomination from a student not to exceed two pages.
• The nominee’s complete advising record at the School of Public Health, indicating for each advisee the date of advising (beginning and end), faculty member’s role (academic project/thesis advisor, or committee member). This will typically be prepared by the nominee. Do not submit nominee’s curriculum vitae.
• Up to five letters of support from students who have been advisees.
  • From 2021 onward, no letters of support beyond the letter of nomination are required. Any additional letters of support you wish to submit are optional.

Template for Advising Information

You may use the following template to identify current and former advisees, please list in chronological order. The first few lines have been completed for you as an example.

* Inactive indicates that the student is no longer matriculating or actively working on completing degree but has not formally withdrawn from the program.

To facilitate evaluation, please have one person act as the primary nominator, compiling all of the letters of support and other material prior to submitting online for the review committee.

Students acting as primary nominators are strongly encouraged to discuss the nomination with the program major chair, Director of Graduate Studies, an SPH faculty member, program major coordinators, or division assistant/administrator for assistance in gathering the nominee’s advising record to complete the nomination packet.

Excerpts from award recipients’ nomination letters may be read at the awards ceremony. Following the ceremony, the winner will receive a complete copy of the nomination submission.

Previous Recipients