The Graduate School Citations for Academic Excellence were created to recognize outstanding academic achievement of graduate students. Awards are given to students who have completed their program or are very close to completion.

The Graduate School began awarding the Citations in the Spring of 2006 at the first-ever Graduate Student Celebration. The ceremony is devoted exclusively to recognition of the academic excellence of graduate students during their studies at Grand Valley State University. The Graduate Student Association (GSA) co-hosts this event, which includes a reception and awards presentation.

Student Recognition Areas:

In the ceremony, we recognize graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in their academic careers at GVSU. The Graduate School Citations for Excellence also include university-wide recognition in these areas:

1) Academic Excellence in a Degree Program Award

2) Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award

3) Outstanding Master's Thesis Award

4) Outstanding Final Project Award

5) Outstanding Publication Award

6) Award for Excellence in Service to the Community/Profession

7) Award for Excellence in Leadership/Service to GVSU

8) Award for Excellence in Promoting Diversity and Inclusion at GVSU

9) Award for Excellence in Sustainability

Graduate students who are graduating in the current semester are eligible for these awards.

Winter 2024 Citation Awards Recap

On April 19th, The Graduate School honored individuals who have distinguished themselves in graduate education at Grand Valley State University. This year was a record-breaking ceremony with 81 student awardees! The Graduate School Citation Awards for Academic Excellence are given to recognize the accomplishments of our students and faculty. 

The Graduate School Citation Awards recognize excellence in academic performance in several categories. Graduate students are nominated for these awards by staff or faculty members, advisors, graduate program directors, and departmental chairs or school directors. Faculty members are nominated by the students. The Vice Provost for the Graduate School reviews the nominees and approves the final selection.

Grand Valley State University is extremely proud of the accomplishments of these graduate students and graduate faculty members. Congratulations to all!

For the complete list of awardees, please check out this article.

Student Nomination Guidelines:

Graduate students are nominated for these awards by their faculty advisors, the graduate program director, the departmental chair or school director, and/or other faculty and staff engaged in graduate education that are familiar with the individual student's accomplishments in the specific areas noted. The nominees are reviewed by the Vice Provost for The Graduate School in consultation with others involved in graduate education. Final selection is made by the Vice Provost for the Graduate School. Each recipient is granted a certificate of recognition and a graduate honors cord.

Nomination Guidelines

Event Programs

GSA Faculty Nominations

Each year the Graduate Student Association asks graduate students to nominate faculty members that have made an impact upon them in a variety of ways. The three awards seeking nominations are the Kimboko Inclusion Award, Outstanding Mentorship Award, and the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award. Detailed descriptions for each of the awards can be found in the subsequent links below. The nominees will be reviewed by The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association and the winners will be announced at The Graduate School Citations for Academic Excellence on December 6, 2024. All nominations with completed forms must be completed by end of day November 8, 2024.

Kimboko Inclusion Award
Graduate students are invited to nominate a faculty member that they feel deserves special recognition for teaching, distinctive scholarship or creative work, or noteworthy service in moving GVSU graduate education toward being a more diverse and inclusive community. The award recognizes the accomplishments of Dr. Priscilla Kimboko, GVSU's first Dean of Graduate Education, and represents her commitment to these values.

Outstanding Mentorship Award
Graduate students are invited to nominate faculty members they feel deserve special recognition for exemplary mentorship. An outstanding mentor encourages the development of individual talent through advising graduate level research and promoting professional development opportunities beyond the classroom, assists in promoting successful transition from graduate studies to employment, sponsors students and their work in and beyond the campus community, acts as an advocate and leader in administrative and professional matters, and demonstrates respect and a sincere and active interest in the well-being of students.

Outstanding Teaching Award
Graduate students are invited to nominate faculty members they feel deserve special recognition for exemplary teaching. A faculty member who exhibits exemplary teaching contributes to graduate student development by using thoughtful and creative methods of instruction, maintains a level of academic rigor commensurate with graduate education, assists in deeply understanding course content, engages students in a dynamic and inclusive manner, and demonstrates respect and a sincere and active interest in the educational development of students.

All nominations with completed forms must be completed by end of day November 8, 2024.