Diversity Enhancement Award | Ferris State University

This award is conferred upon a faculty or staff member who demonstrates a significant commitment to enhancing diversity and harmonious relationships at Ferris State University. Recipients will receive a plaque and a monetary award of $1,500. 

Criteria for Evaluation 

Nominees will be evaluated based on the significance of their contributions in these areas: 

1. A commitment to the spirit of diversity demonstrated through their teaching/learning, daily work or service activities, such as efforts to develop programs or curricula that promote diversity understanding. 
2. Leadership through positive interaction between persons of different backgrounds through initiatives that promote acceptance and foster mutual respect and result in a more diverse and inclusive campus. 
3. Special efforts to recruit, retain and/or mentor members of the university community from diverse backgrounds, i.e. students, faculty, staff.

Eligibility

Ferris faculty and staff members are eligible for this award. Any member of the Diversity Enhancement Award Selection Committee who is nominated for the award will remove their self from the committee for the year in which they are nominated. Past recipients of this award are eligible only upon the expiration of the fifth year after their award. 

Nomination Process

Please nominate your colleagues for this award by electronically submitting the following: 

1. Nominee’s name, Ferris department and college, and phone number 
2. Letter of nomination that specifically addresses the criteria for evaluation 

All nominations must be received electronically at email address [email protected]. Please include the subject line “Diversity Enhancement Award Nomination” in your email. You will receive a confirmation email indicating that your nomination was received. Please submit a separate nomination for each nominee. 

The Secretary of the Academic Senate will follow up with nominees, providing them with a copy of the Diversity Enhancement Award, and requesting of them the following: 

1. A minimum of a one-page paper, not to exceed three pages, describing your diversity/inclusion philosophy, methods, challenges, and accomplishments you deem noteworthy
2. Current vita or resume, including a section or separate attachment for your diversity enhancement activities dated by academic year
3. Nomination email or letter (attached in this email)
4. Up to three additional letters of recognition, support, or recommendation from students, faculty, administrators, or organizations pertaining to your diversity accomplishments, as appropriate, will be accepted but they are not required (optional) 

Deadline

The deadline to submit nominations is by 5 pm, Monday February 13, 2023.  Late nominations will not be accepted.