Graduate Studies

Nomination Guidelines

Nomination Deadline: TBA for Fall 2013

The Graduate Dean's Citations for Excellence include the:

  • Award for Academic Excellence in the Major
  • Award for Excellence in Service to the Community or Profession
  • Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service to GVSU
  • Award for Excellence in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion at GVSU
  • Outstanding Dissertation Award
  • Outstanding Master's Thesis Award
  • Outstanding Final Project Award
  • Outstanding Publication Award

All these awards are for graduating students only.

Please submit nomination letters electronically via email, with supporting materials attached. Please use Word format whenever possible (this makes it easier for us to copy and paste quotes and abstracts into the event program).  PDFs will also be accepted.  You may submit nominations to Jennifer Palm in the Office of Graduate Studies at palmj@gvsu.edu on or before the Fall 2013 deadline.

For each nominee, the nomination should be comprised of at least one letter of support from a faculty member in the program and a letter of support from the graduate program director or coordinator. Nominations for Outstanding Thesis, Final Project, and Publication Awards should include a copy of the student’s abstract.

Students may be nominated for more than one award, if eligible. Awards will be made to nominees who rise to the level of excellence by which GVSU wishes to be known.

Academic Excellence in a Major

Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding performance in an academic program of study. There can be one student from each program of study (e.g. one each from Public Administration and Health Administration). Submit a letter that details why this student is being nominated (e.g. grade point average, outstanding performance in coursework, academic skills that exceed the average in terms of written assignments, or projects).

Excellence in Service to Community or Profession

Nominees should have demonstrated outstanding services and leadership in the community and profession (beyond the GVSU campus).  Any faculty or staff member who has observed this student's performance may lend their support to the nomination.  Letters should address the ways in which the student's service has benefited the community and/or the profession.

Excellence in Leadership and Service to GVSU

Nominees should have taken active leadership and service roles at Grand Valley State University.  Nominations may be supported by any faculty or staff member who has had the opportunity to observe and evaluate the student's leadership.  Letters should address ways in which the student's leadership and service have impacted the university.

 Excellence in Promoting Inclusion and Diversity at GVSU

Nominees should have displayed active promotion of inclusion and diversity at Grand Valley State University, as well as embodied the spirit of inclusion within the campus community.  Nominations may be supported by any faculty or staff member who has observed the student's promotion of inclusion and diversity at GVSU.  Letters should address ways in which the student's actions have impacted the university in terms of inclusion and diversity.

Outstanding Dissertation Award

Nominees must have successfully completed the defense of the dissertation.  Student work must be of publishable quality, or of research on a topic of exceptional significance to the profession or discipline.  Excellence in design, analysis, and discussion, as well as excellence of the overall dissertation are expected.  

Outstanding Master's Thesis Award

Nominees must have successfully completed the defense of the master’s thesis.  Student work must be of publishable quality, or of research on a topic of exceptional significance to the profession or discipline.  Excellence in design, analysis, and discussion, as well as excellence of the overall master’s thesis document are expected.  Outstanding Thesis Award winners will be considered for entry into the Midwest Association of Graduate Schools Outstanding Thesis competition.  Students will need to send a final copy of their theses to the Office of Graduate Studies following successful defense and final approval of the thesis.

Outstanding Final Project Award

Nominees must have completed a project that has demonstrated excellence in its conception, merit, significance, and in its presentation (written or otherwise).

Outstanding Publication Award

Nominees whose work has been published or accepted for publication in a professional journal are eligible for this award. The student shall serve as a primary author.  The publication may be an article or other product appropriate to the profession or discipline (e.g. case study, protocol, literature review, etc).

 The same student can be nominated in multiple categories. However, multiple students cannot be nominated in the same category. For example, Mary Jones can be nominated for outstanding thesis AND service to GSVU. But Mary Jones, Jane Doe, and John Smith cannot all be nominated for the same award, e.g. excellence in the major.

Page last modified April 18, 2013