Advisement

Excellence in Advising Award

Tennessee Tech University recognizes and values the importance of academic advising to the central mission of the University and its promotion of and commitment to student success. The University would like to recognize those academic advisors who provide exceptional performance and innovation in the advisement of their students.

About the Award

Up to two (2) awards will be given annually to the faculty and/or professional advisor(s) that promote student learning, performance, achievement, progress and success, expanded opportunities, support engagement, growth and discovery, and wellness and connectedness. Recipient(s) will receive a $750 (less applicable taxes) award, plaque, and recognition during the President’s "Celebration of Excellence".

Nominations will be accepted until March 12, 2025.

Eligibility for Nomination

Any individual currently employed by Tennessee Tech University at least half-time (50%) in a position where undergraduate academic advising is the primary role (as designated by job description) or the administration of an academic advising program may be nominated OR any full-time faculty member who has a secondary responsibility to advise undergraduate students.
All nominees must have completed one year as an undergraduate academic advisor at Tennessee Tech University.
Previous Excellence in Advising winners are not eligible for a 3-year period from date of award.
Members of the selection committee are excluded from being nominees.

» Criteria
The selection committee will evaluate nominations on the evidence of qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding academic advisor or faculty advisor.

Such evidence may include:
- Availability to advisees, faculty, and staff
- Caring, helpful attitude toward advisees, faculty, and staff
- Participation in and support of intrusive advising to build strong relationships with advisees
- Frequency of contact with advisees
- Appropriate referral activity
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Ability to engage in, promote, and support developmental advising
- Use and dissemination of appropriate information sources
- Monitoring of student progress toward academic and career goals
- Mastery of institutional regulations, policies, and procedures
- Participation in and support of advisor development programs
- Embrace and utilize new advising technologies to promote student success and retention
- Evidence of administering academic advising which embraces NACADA’s core values - https://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Pillars/CoreValues.aspx
» Nomination Information
Nominations can come from anyone within the University community. For example, students may nominate an academic advisor that they have worked closely with; faculty may nominate a professional advisor who has helped; and department chairs may nominate faculty advisors.

Nominations must contain adequate factual or narrative material that describes the extent to which an individual meets the awards criteria.
- A completed nomination form.
- A summary of the nominee’s qualifications wherein the nominator should summarize the extent to which the nominee meets the award criteria, citing letter of support, data, or other materials illustrating exemplary performance as an academic advisor (3 page maximum).
Nomination Steps:
1. A nomination (form linked below) must be submitted by a faculty, staff, or student of Tennessee Tech.
After Nomination received, the nominee will be requested to submit the following:
- Resume or CV
- A personal statement of advising
- Ensure they receive at least one nomination from a student
Additional information and instructions will be provided to the nominee within their nomination email.