College of Arts and Sciences

About the Alumni Achievement Awards

As alumni, you are an integral part of the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University, and we welcome your involvement in our programs and events.

Our alumni network of more than 40,000 individuals includes private, non-profit and government leaders. We are proud of our alumni, who are achieving excellence in all aspects of learning and discovery in the humanities, social sciences and sciences, and contributing to the betterment of their communities, from local to global.

Alumni Achievement Awards

Every year, the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University encourages each of our academic units to nominate outstanding alumni to be recognized during the homecoming weekend for their professional achievements and contributions to their communities.

We honor our alumni with three different achievement awards. Annually, each academic unit (school, department, or institute) in the college may select a single Alumni Achievement Award recipient. The College of Arts and Sciences Early Career Excellence Award is open to alumni from all academic units in the college and is given to those alumni who show exceptional promise to become national or international leaders in their chosen fields of study, as well as leaders in their local communities. The College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award is also open to alumni from all academic units in the college. It is given to those alumni who have served as model leaders in their communities, contributing truly outstanding work that has had a positive impact at the national and international level, transforming their fields of interest through a lifetime of professional achievement.

Department, School, or Institute Award

Eligibility:

  • Nominees must have received a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree from a degree program in the nominating academic unit (school, department, or institute) in the WMU College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Nominees are also eligible to receive the College of Arts and Sciences Early Career Excellence Award and/or the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award.

Criteria:

  1. Professional Excellence: Outstanding achievements in their professional endeavors.
  2. Service and Leadership: Significant contributions to their communities through service, volunteerism, or leadership roles.
  3. Impact and Influence: Notable impact in their community and/or professional field.
  4. Lifetime Achievement: Sustained record of accomplishments.
  5. Alignment with College Values: Embody the core values and mission of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Early Career Excellence Award

Eligibility:

  • Nominees must have received a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree from a program in the WMU College of Arts and Sciences within the past fifteen years.
  • Nominees for an department, school, or institute Alumni Achievement Award may also be nominated for an Early Career Alumni Achievement Award.

Criteria:

  1. Professional Achievement: Excellence and innovation in their professional endeavors.
  2. Service and Leadership: Active engagement in community service, volunteerism, and/or leadership roles.
  3. Impact and Influence: Significant positive impact in their community and/or professional field.
  4. Early Career Success: Notable success and recognition early in their career with promise for future achievement.
  5. Alignment with College Values: Embody the core values and mission of the College of Arts and Sciences.

College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Achievement Award 

Eligibility:

  • Nominees must have received a baccalaureate, master’s or doctoral degree from a program in the Western Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences.
  • Current and past recipients of a department, school, or institute Alumni Achievement Award may be nominated.
  • Past recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences Early Career Award may be nominated.

Criteria:

  1. Professional Achievement: Demonstrated truly outstanding levels of achievement and innovation in their professional endeavors.
  2. Service and Leadership: Active engagement in community service, volunteerism, and/or leadership roles.
  3. Impact and Influence: Recognized leaders in their community and/or professional field.
  4. Career Success: Sustained record of national or international recognition in their professional field.
  5. Alignment with College Values: Embody the core values and mission of the College of Arts and Sciences.
     

The CAS Dean’s Office will email nomination instructions directly to those eligible to submit a nomination.