Presidential Excellence Awards

The Presidential Excellence Awards honor individuals and teams who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to our mission, excellence in their work and service to our community.

As we continue to navigate a time of transformation in higher education, it is essential to acknowledge the leaders who are paving the way for success. Montclair State University is a remarkable place – I am proud of the generosity, creativity and kindness of our community. Every day, our faculty and staff go above and beyond to help students, colleagues and the local community.

These awards are intended to highlight achievements from all members of our Red Hawk community, including faculty and staff, full-time and part-time, long standing and newly arrived. The categories, eligibility and selection criteria can be found below. You may nominate yourself or a peer using our nomination form.

I encourage you to take part by nominating your colleagues who embody the spirit of excellence and innovation. The deadline to submit your nomination is November 15, 2024 at 5:00pm. If you have any questions, please contact Mark Allman, Senior Advisor to the President, at allmanm@montclair.edu.

Thank you for your dedication and please join me in celebrating our colleagues whose dedication ought to be acknowledged and lauded. Together, we will continue our mission to make Montclair an inclusive and accessible university that creates transformative educational opportunities for students across the globe.

Jonathan GS Koppell
President

Award Categories and Eligibility

Excellence in Teaching, Full-time Faculty Award

Faculty with at least 6 years of full-time teaching at Montclair, selected based upon quality of teaching, impact on student learning and impact on student success.

Excellence in Teaching, Early Career, Full-time Faculty Award

Faculty with less than 6 years of full-time teaching at Montclair, selected based upon quality of teaching, impact on student learning and impact on student success.

Excellence in Teaching, Part-time Faculty Award

Faculty with at least 6 years of part-time teaching at Montclair, selected based upon quality of teaching, impact on student learning and impact on student success.

Excellence in Teaching, Early Career, Part-time Faculty Award

Faculty with less than 6 years of part-time teaching at Montclair, selected based upon quality of teaching, impact on student learning and impact on student success.

Excellence in Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity, Faculty Award

All faculty either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon the quality of the research, scholarship, or creative activity; level of student engagement in the research, scholarship, or creative activity; and potential positive impact or reach of the research, scholarship, or creative activity.

Excellence in Student Engagement in Research, Scholarship, or Creative Activity, Staff Award

All staff either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon the quality of the research, scholarship, or creative activity; level of student engagement in the research, scholarship, or creative activity; and potential positive impact or reach of the research, scholarship, or creative activity.

Excellence in Civic and Community Engagement, Faculty Award

All faculty either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon quality of the civic and community engagement for community partners; quality of student engagement in the community; and positive impact or reach of the civic and community engagement in the community and/or on campus.

Excellence in Civic and Community Engagement, Staff Award

All staff either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon quality of the civic and community engagement for community partners; quality of student engagement in the community; and positive impact or reach of the civic and community engagement in the community and/or on campus.

Excellence in Student Success Award

All faculty and staff either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon significance of the student success problem that needed to be solved; innovative nature of the solution (approach, system, or idea) that was implemented; and positive impact of the solution on student success.

Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Award

All faculty and staff either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon actions taken to make the university more diverse, equitable, and inclusive; and impact on the larger community.

Excellence in Business Process Optimization Award

All staff either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon significance or complexity of the business process that was addressed; innovative nature of the solution, approach, system, or idea that was implemented; and positive impact of the solution, approach, system, or idea that was implemented.

Excellence in Sustainability Initiatives Award

All staff either as an individual or acting as a team. Selected based upon significance or complexity of the sustainability initiative; innovative nature of the solution, approach, system, or idea that was implemented; and positive impact of the solution, approach, system, or idea that was implemented.

Excellence in Service Award

Staff with at least 5 years of service at Montclair, considered as an individual or as a team. Selected based upon outstanding service to their department, above and beyond daily responsibilities; positive impact on the university; and consistent dedication to excellence in service to constituents and stakeholders.

Excellence in Service, Early Career Award

Staff with fewer than 5 years of service at Montclair, considered as an individual or as a team. Selected based upon outstanding service to their department, above and beyond daily responsibilities; positive impact on the university; and consistent dedication to excellence in service to constituents and stakeholders.

Excellence in Innovation Award

All faculty and staff, considered as an individual or as a team. Selected based upon significance or complexity of the problem that needed to be solved; innovative nature of the solution, approach, system, or idea that was implemented; and positive impact of the solution.

Team Award

Any group of three or more employees that collaborate on an initiative that makes Montclair an excellent place to work, learn, or serve others. Selected based upon evidence of improved learning or research; evidence of improved student/employee satisfaction, engagement, or morale; and positive impact on the university.

Excellence in Advocacy and Allyship Award

All faculty and staff, full-time or part-time, who play an active role in advocating for the rights, opportunities, and voice of historically excluded groups; provide guidance, mentorship, or resources to individuals from underrepresented communities to support their personal or professional growth.

Unsung Hero Award

Up to 5 awards annually for faculty and staff, full-time or part-time, who since 2021, have demonstrated consistent, meaningful and often underappreciated work that contributes to the betters of the university with an exceptional level of responsibility and diligence; giving their time, skills, or resources to support others in ways that significantly contribute to collective efforts or community improvement; exercising leadership in a humble, understated manner that positively influences others without seeking authority, acknowledgement, or status.

Timeline

October 4, 2024: Call for nominations is distributed to all employees.
November 15, 2024: Nominations close at 5:00PM
November 22, 2024: Nominees are notified.; Presidential Excellence Awards Review Committee begins the review process.
January 24, 2025: Committee determines a list of Finalists (no more than 3) for each award.
January 31, 2025: Finalists for each award are notified and invited to submit additional documents to support their nominations (no more than 3 pages). Please note: finalists are not required to provide additional documentation, this is optional.; Nominees that did not advance as finalists are notified.
February 21, 2025: Deadline for Finalists to submit any additional documents to the committee.
March 28, 2025: Committee sends a list of their recommendations and 1-page rationale for each award to the President for review.
April 14, 2025: President makes the final decision regarding award recipients.
April 18, 2025: Finalists receive email from the President informing them of the awards winners.
May 19 or 20, 2025: Finalists receive their awards at a special luncheon

Review Committee

Presidential Excellence Awards Review Committee (PEARC) will be chaired by a representative of the President’s Office who will coordinate the committee meetings and selection process. The committee chair will have a voice, but no vote in the review process. The other committee members will be appointed by the president and consist of:

Faculty (2)
Students (2)
Provost’s Office Representatives (2)
Administration and Operations Office (2)
Student Development and Campus Life (1)
Communications and Marketing (1)
Enrollment Management (1)
Human Resources (1)
Development and Alumni Engagement (1)
Inclusive Excellence and Institutional Equity (1)

The committee will form 4 subcommittees to review nominees for a particular sub-set of awards. Each subcommittee will select a subcommittee chair.

Members of the committee may not be nominated for any awards.