ABOUT THE AWARD

Created in 2024, the Power of Collaboration Award honors outstanding partnerships in the College of Arts & Letters. This award celebrates two or three support staff whose combined efforts have resulted in significant innovations, solutions, and advancements, demonstrating the power of collaboration. By evaluating achievements, innovation, synergy, resilience, ethics, and communication, the award spotlights pairs who embody exceptional teamwork and impact. The Power of Collaboration Award recognizes those who blend their strengths to achieve remarkable outcomes, serving as an inspiration for collaborative excellence. It’s a tribute to the unity, creativity, and integrity that fuel progress, highlighting the essence of collective success.

The award recipient will evenly split a $800 award and be recognized with a citation and an award plaque.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible nominees for this award encompass all CAL support staff members, irrespective of whether they are part of specific teams or serve in distinct roles within the College. The nomination process is designed to reflect the rich diversity of our workforce. To this end, we allow the following configurations of nominees:

  • Nominees who are members of formally recognized teams (such as Academic Operations, Finance, HR, Office Operations, MarCom, Development) must come from different teams. However, they can be affiliated with the same center or department.
  • A nominee from one of the recognized teams can be paired with a nominee from a non-team-specific role (for example, someone working on a grant project), as long as none of the nominees share the same team or operational area.
  • Individuals from non-team-specific areas are also eligible, provided they do not work within the same operational area.

The nomination may include a collaboration of 2 or up to 3 individuals.

This approach is intended to honor the diverse contributions made throughout the College, ensuring the award promotes diversity by precluding nominations of individuals from the same team or operational area. Our ambition is to spotlight remarkable collaborative efforts across the College, fostering a spirit of excellence and inclusivity within our community.

AWARD CRITERIA

  • Tangible Achievements: The collaboration displays the real-world impact and tangible results stemming from collaborative efforts, showcasing significant advancements, solutions, or benefits that have enriched the College community. It reflects on the partnership’s effectiveness and its value in creating meaningful and sustainable change. 

  • Creative Innovation: The nominees have used innovative approaches, introducing fresh methods, ideas, or solutions, and it celebrates their ability to harness their collective creativity to forge new paths and achieve groundbreaking results. 

  • Harmonious Synergy: They have blended their unique skills, knowledge, and efforts to form a powerful synergy, enhancing their collective output. It emphasizes the core of successful collaboration: accomplishing more together than would be possible solo. 

  • Resilience in Adversity: Their collaboration highlights their strength and resilience in overcoming challenges and acknowledges how they have adeptly navigated through difficulties, demonstrating unwavering commitment and superior problem-solving skills. 

  • Ethical Collaboration: Their collaboration is built on a foundation of ethics and integrity, setting a benchmark for responsible and ethical teamwork, recognizing that their partnerships have produced exceptional outcomes with moral fortitude and honesty. 

  • Effective Communication and Resolution: They model clear communication and constructive conflict resolution. They excel in maintaining open channels of communication, fostering a respectful and productive environment. 

NOMINATION PROCESS

Complete the NOMINATION FORM. Along with the nomination form, please upload the nomination letter and up to 3 letters of support – 2 pages or less. Group letters are welcomed. For assistance or questions regarding the form or process, please contact Melissa Staub. 

Nominations and letters of support are encouraged from students, staff, and faculty from across campus who have direct knowledge and experience interacting with the nominee.

SELECTION PROCESS

The nominee must meet the eligibility requirements. Each nomination will be rated by a committee of five using a rubric based on the award criteria. Nomination and supporting letters will have identifying information, such as names, titles, and departments redacted to avoid unintended bias or preferential scoring. Distinctive achievement in each category of the award will constitute the strongest case for selection. The committee will be cognizant, however, of particularly outstanding achievement in any one area. The finalist will be submitted to the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters for final approval. 

DEADLINE IS MAY 15, 2024

PAST AWARD RECIPIENTS

2024 – To be determined.