Purpose

To recognize and honor Northern Michigan University faculty, including department heads, who have been leaders in fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, scholarship, service, and other activities.

This award celebrates the many dimensions of diversity and inclusion, including, but not limited to, ancestry, ethnicity, religion or creed, sex or gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, and military or veteran status.

Eligibility

Faculty or department heads who are currently on full-time, continuing, or active status and have been members of the Northern Michigan University faculty for at least five (5) years at the time of the award. Prior recipients may be nominated five (5) years after receiving this award.

Criteria

Nominees must have demonstrated a record of exceptional contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The committee will base its decision on the nominee’s record of significant contributions to NMU and the broader community, including the quality and scope of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across multiple domains, such as teaching, research, and service.

The successful nomination will reflect strong success in at least one of the following:

  • A sustained commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Northern Michigan University and/or the broader community
  • Development and implementation of teaching strategies that enhance the success of students and faculty of diverse backgrounds
  • A demonstrated commitment to promoting professional or academic advancement of underrepresented groups in higher education or the nominee’s professional discipline
  • Implementation of an initiative, project, and/or program that advances diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Activities that promote the well-being of historically marginalized communities in the nominee’s department, discipline, profession, or community
  • Demonstrated efforts to increase diversity or improve the climate within the nominee’s department, college, or campus as a whole

Nominations

Any peer, department head/director, unit evaluation committee, or student may nominate an eligible faculty member. The nomination must be submitted to Claudia Mankee in the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at cmankee@nmu.edu. The following items should be included in this order in one PDF document:

  1. Letter of nomination from peer, department head/director, unit evaluation committee, or student. Limit to 2 pages.
  2. Narrative from the nominee that includes their accomplishments related to diversity, equity, and
    inclusion. Limit to 3 pages.
  3. Curriculum vitae. Limit to 5 pages.
  4. Letters of support. Limit to 3 letters.

Deadline

Completed nomination with all supporting documentation must be submitted 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024.

Selection

All nominations will be reviewed by a Selection Advisory Committee chaired by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and composed of the Academic Deans, the Senior Associate Provost and a representative of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Recognition

Recipients of the NMU Faculty Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award will be recognized at the Celebration of Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship. One recipient annually will receive a cash award of $1,000.