College of Arts and Sciences

Excellence in Promoting Student Success Award

About

This award is given by the College of Arts and Sciences at Western Michigan University to recognize faculty members who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to the college’s mission to help students succeed in life and contribute to the betterment of our communities. Faculty may be nominated based on their outstanding support of undergraduate and/or graduate student engagement and success through outstanding mentoring, advising, or other efforts to support students.

Award winners receive a plaque or trophy and are honored at the college faculty and staff award ceremony held during the spring semester. Winners may be invited to present a lecture, seminar, or lunch presentation focused on excellence in student success. In addition, award winners receive $1,000, which is deposited into their departmental WRAP account, which can be spent in accordance with university policies for WRAP expenditures. Up to four awards, between faculty and staff, will be made each year.

2021 Recipient Information

Dr. Mike Ryan does an outstanding job meeting with and advising undergraduate students interested in Economics. He is the primary point of contact, the all-around go-to person that every instructor, graduate teaching associates, and certainly undergraduate students of the department (and oftentimes outside of the department) rely on for consultation, information, guidance and problem-solving. Dr. Ryan does an outstanding job meeting with and advising undergraduate students interested in Economics. In fact, Dr. Ryan led department discussions related to how our courses might fit in the new Western Essential Studies model and was instrumental in the creation of an additional undergraduate major, the Bachelor of Science in Economics. Both of these efforts have had positive impacts on the department. Dr. Ryan has demonstrated outstanding knowledge and skill in undergraduate academic advising, and utmost concern and commitment to student success and wellbeing.

Deadline

Feb. 15

This award will be offered for the deadlines listed as long as funds are available.

Eligibility

All part-time or full-time staff advisors are eligible. Any faculty member who serves in an official capacity related to departmental undergraduate advising is eligible.

Awardees are ineligible for future nominations for a period of five years.

Nomination

Nomination form

Nominations should include:

Name and unit of the staff or faculty advisor and the nominator
Number of years of service in the role of advisor
Statement (250 words or less) detailing how the candidate has demonstrated excellence in undergraduate advising, focused on their commitment to advising and innovation in their work

Nominations may also include statements of support from colleagues, supervisors, students, etc. in the form of memos, letters and emails.

Submission

College of Arts and Sciences Office of the Dean:
@email

Submit application as a single PDF, putting the title of the award (Undergraduate Advising Excellence Award) and applicant name in the subject line of the email. Emails from WMU accounts may serve in place of signatures.

Only online submissions accepted.

2020 Recipient

Joshua Koenig, Department of History

Questions?

Please do not hesitate to contact the College of Arts and Sciences dean’s office with any questions or concerns.

See full list of awards given by the College of Arts and Sciences.