CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OR PROGRAM

On behalf of the Board of Regents, the University System of Georgia (USG) Office of Academic Affairs is pleased to invite nominations for the Regents’ Award for Excellence in High-Impact Practices and Experiential Learning. This award recognizes exceptional departments or programs that have demonstrated a sustained and meaningful commitment to integrating High-Impact Practices (HIPs) into their curriculum and co-curricular experiences, resulting in transformative outcomes for students.

Award Criteria 

Nominations will be evaluated based on compelling evidence of excellence in the following five areas:

1. Integration of High-Impact Practices (HIPs)
   Demonstrates intentional and sustained integration of one or more HIPs within curricular and/or co-curricular contexts. Includes consistent identification of HIPs in Banner and alignment with program-level goals.
    
2. Evidence of Student Impact
   Presents clear, measurable evidence that HIPs have improved student engagement, learning, and/or academic success. May include both qualitative and quantitative data.
    
3. Innovative Pedagogical Approaches
   Description of creative and effective teaching and learning strategies used to enhance student engagement and achievement. Examples may include collaborative learning, undergraduate research, service-learning, global learning, internships, e-portfolios, and capstone projects.
    
4. Assessment and Continuous Improvement
   Provides evidence of regular assessment and data-informed refinements to HIPs implementation, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to quality enhancement.
    
5. Faculty Development and Support
   Describes how the department supports faculty in implementing HIPs, including professional development, mentoring, or institutional incentives that foster a strong teaching culture.

Eligibility and Nomination Procedures

Each USG institution is invited to submit one nomination for a department or program that exemplifies outstanding implementation of High-Impact Practices. The nomination should be coordinated by the institution’s academic leadership and must include a letter of endorsement from the institution’s chief academic officer.

Required Documentation 

Nomination portfolios must not exceed 15 pages total, including all supporting materials (1-inch margins, minimum 12-point font). Submissions that exceed the page limit or do not meet formatting guidelines will not be accepted.

All portfolios should include the following components:

• Table of Contents
  A list of all portfolio components.
  (Note: Does not count toward the 15-page limit.)
   
• Nomination Letter (1-2 pages)
  A letter from the institution’s chief academic officer endorsing the nomination and briefly describing why the department or program merits recognition.
  (Note: Does not count toward the 15-page limit.)
   
• Narrative Statement (2–3 pages)
  A cohesive narrative that directly addresses the award criteria. This statement should describe the department’s or program’s philosophy, goals, and strategies for implementing High-Impact Practices and enhancing student learning and engagement.
   
• Fact Profile (1–2 pages)
  A concise overview of the department or program, including:
  • Name of the department or program and its institutional context
  • Number of students served or majors enrolled
  • Key courses or programs using HIPs
  • Relevant partnerships (e.g., community, global, research)
  • Any additional background that helps reviewers understand the scope and scale of the work
     
• Evidence of Excellence (3+ pages)
  This section is the heart of the portfolio. It should include a curated selection of materials that demonstrate strong performance in each of the five award criteria. A narrative should be woven throughout the section to clearly explain the significance and context of each piece of evidence. Examples of evidence may include:
  • Artifacts from innovative teaching practices
  • Assessment data demonstrating impact on student success
  • Syllabi or curriculum maps showing HIPs integration
  • Documentation of assessment cycles or improvement strategies
  • Materials or descriptions of faculty development or support for implementing HIPs

Submission Guidelines

• All materials must be compiled into a single PDF file and submitted via the Regents Portfolio Submission System. 
• Portfolios must meet formatting guidelines (1-inch margins, minimum 12-point font) and may not exceed 15 pages.
• Portfolios will be reviewed and assessed by the contents of the portfolio. Links to additional materials will not be reviewed.

Award Committee

A special committee composed of faculty and administrators from across the USG who are experienced in teaching and learning practices will review the nomination portfolios and recommend finalists for each award.

The winner of this award will be recognized at a spring meeting of the Board of Regents.