CALES FAIRness Council Awards & Recognition
The Shirley O’Brien CALES Community Awards recognize individuals and teams who demonstrate leadership and commitment to advancing fairness, access, inclusion, and representation across the college. These awards honor meaningful contributions that strengthen the CALES community and support a culture of belonging and respect.
Shirley O’Brien CALES Community Award Categories
Legacy Community Champion
Recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership for five or more years based on the selection criteria outlined below.
Emerging Community Champion
Recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership by initiating a new program or effort within the past four years or less, based on the selection criteria outlined below.
Team Community Champions
Recognizes a team (two or more members) that demonstrates exemplary leadership and collaboration through CALES community-building efforts, based on the selection criteria outlined below.
Eligibility
Current CALES staff, faculty, and students are eligible for nomination. Individuals may be nominated for either the Legacy or Emerging award categories. Teams of two or more individuals must be nominated for the Team Community Champions Award. Previous Shirley O’Brien Award recipients are not eligible for nomination.
Selection Procedure and Criteria
All members of the CALES FAIRness Council will screen applications using the criteria below. Council members who are nominees or nominators will be recused from the selection process.
Nominees should demonstrate exceptional efforts beyond their normal position responsibilities in one or more of the following areas:
- Recruiting and retaining graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, appointed personnel, and/or staff from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
- Promoting an environment free from bias and discrimination.
- Supporting access to training and career development opportunities for individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
- Promoting a CALES culture that values fairness, mutual respect, and a wide range of viewpoints.
- Designing and implementing programs or curriculum that encourage understanding, respect, and collaboration across the CALES community.
Nomination Materials
Nominations must include the following:
- A nomination form with nominator and nominee information and a nomination letter (not to exceed three pages total).
- Up to two additional letters of support, each not to exceed two pages. Letters may be submitted by colleagues, supervisors, students, team members, collaborators, or community supporters.
- Letters should provide specific examples demonstrating how the nominee meets one or more of the selection criteria listed above.
Calls for Nominations
Calls for nominations for each award category are issued once per year. Nominations are due on October 15, or the following business day if October 15 falls on a weekend or holiday.
For questions, please contact Jeff Ratje.