Awards Committee

The purpose of the UWL D-E-I Awards is to recognize university change agents who have established a successful record in fostering greater access and success for students who are members of historically underrepresented populations (including African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, and Southeast Asian), first-generation, and/or economically disadvantaged. Established by the Board of Regents, the award signifies the Board’s commitment to “…achieving educational diversity at all UW System institutions... in order to fully develop advanced human potential, the jobs that employ that potential, and the flourishing of communities that sustain it,” (UW Board of Regents Resolution # 8970).   

Individual – Any individual affiliated with the UW System and its universities, including, but not limited to, faculty, staff, and students.   

or

Department/Program/Unit/Team – Academic or support department, program, or initiative within the larger university; a student, faculty, or staff organization; or a team recognized as a bona-fide group within the university. Teams are not limited to formal organizational units. 

Up to three awards of $7,500 each will be made to individuals, departments, programs, units, and/or teams in recognition of their exceptional efforts in fostering greater equity and diversity across their universities and communities. The funds for these awards are designated to
support individualized professional development or continuing programmatic activities. The Regents Diversity Awards Committee will select the award recipients.

It is anticipated that award recipients will be publicly recognized at the February 9, 2024, meeting of the Board of Regents.

Nominations must provide evidence of outcomes and impacts on the eligible population(s), disaggregating data where appropriate.  

• Sustainable positive impact on equity and diversity, leading to positive university change.  
• Accountability demonstrated through routine assessment and use of feedback loops to promote forward movement on equity and diversity goals.    
• Intersections across multiple dimensions of diversity.  
• Collaborations with other units, departments, or communities, both within the university and beyond.    

Focus Areas: Reflecting the broad range of activities that foster access and success for students from diverse backgrounds, the following focus areas serve as a guide in identifying the types of exemplary efforts appropriate for this award:   

• Improved student academic performance through efforts grounded in theories, concepts, and/or methodologies that enhance diversity and advance equity, social justice, multiculturalism, educational reform, and/or inclusion.  
• Effective initiatives or efforts aimed at closing opportunity and equity gaps for underrepresented students. This may include work aimed at closing opportunity or equity gaps among students within specific disciplines, such as teacher education or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), using pedagogies, concepts, and practices that enhance diversity and advance equity, social justice, multiculturalism, educational reform, and/or inclusion.  
• Increased retention and degree attainment among students who are members of historically underrepresented populations (including African American, Native American, Latinx, Asian American, and Southeast Asian), first-generation, and/or economically disadvantaged.
• Evidence of an established record of achievement in personal or professional development efforts related to advising, mentoring, recruitment, retention, promotion, and graduation of underrepresented faculty, staff, or students. 
• Demonstrated K-16 pipeline efforts, such as precollege and bridge programs that enhance/improve the college readiness of young adults who reside in Wisconsin.     

 MATERIALS: Nominations should include:  

Nominations should not exceed 15 pages and include:

1. A letter of nomination from the Chancellor or Provost (limit 3-pages) that clearly addresses the four award criteria (sustainability, accountability, intersections, and collaborations).
2. A statement (limit 4-pages) describing the exemplary work of the individual, department, program, unit, or team. The statement by the nominee should clearly articulate measurable evidence of their impact and achievements under each of the four award criteria (sustainability, accountability, intersections, and collaborations).
3. A resume/CV (limit 4-pages) of the nominee. For the Department/Program/Unit/Team nominee, include the resume/CV for the coordinator/head/chair. One or two letters of support (limit 2-pages each) addressing the achievements of the individual or department, program, unit, or team from the:
   • Chancellor, Provost, and/or Dean.
   • Department Chair, Program Coordinator, Unit Head, immediate supervisor, or advisor.
   • An individual who has first-hand knowledge of the individual, department, program, unit, or team

Nomination materials are subject to release under Wisconsin Open Records laws and should be written with the possibility of those materials being made publicly available.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: September 29th, 2023

QUALTRICS LINK: https://uwlax.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bqKFYxUfIzAPx8a

*Yearly winner of this award will be nominated by UWL for the Regents Diversity Awards. 

Previous recipients: 

2021 – Barbara Stewart 

Among other accomplishments, Dr. Poorman carried out the research and laid the groundwork to bring in a nationally-known climate assessment expert to conduct a system-wide evaluation of the experiences of diverse people throughout the UW System. This achievement epitomizes Dr. Poorman’s rich contributions to creating a welcoming university climate for all individuals. 

To honor Dr. Poorman’s legacy to the state of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin System and the LGBTQ+ communities, the UW System LGBTQ Inclusivity Initiative established an annual award in her name. The award is intended to recognize UW System faculty, staff, students, or community members for their excellence in advocacy, research, teaching, or service on behalf of the LGBTQ+ communities. 

Individuals who are faculty, staff, students or community members and fit the established criteria are eligible for this award. 

Successful candidates will be LGBTQ+ people or their allies whose contributions have advanced the work of diversity, equity, and Inclusive Excellence in the following ways: 

• Whose advocacy, activism, or scholarship has fostered social justice and organizational 
  change; 
• Who have created a positive transformation within their institutions and/or the 
  community to achieve the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and 
• Whose efforts are improving the climate for, or visibility of, LGBTQ people. 

Selection of the Award Winner will be determined by a committee of: 

• Chancellor 
• Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion 
• Affirmative Action Officer 
• Director, Office of Multicultural Student Services 
• Director, Pride Center 
• Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department Representative

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT May 26, 2023

QUALTRICS LINK https://uwlax.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eam1qwtQHALvFPg

*Yearly winner of this award will be presented as the UWL representative at the Regents Diversity Awards. 

Previous recipients: 

The UW System Outstanding Women of Color in Education Award is organized and supported by the UW System Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The award and recognition ceremony were initiated in 1994 to acknowledge the ties and shared concerns among administrators, faculty, staff, and students within women’s studies and ethnic studies, and to uphold a continuing commitment to the goals of Inclusive Excellence.   

Each UW System institution is invited to select one woman to receive this recognition based on their areas of diversity or women’s studies scholarship and activism, and/or in doing service to improve the status and climate for women, particularly women of color. The charge is to identify women of color who have consistently demonstrated their ability to rally diverse forces together to advance the agenda of women; who have created positive changes at their institutional level, such as curriculum development and infusion, acquiring grants, or mentoring women; and who have demonstrated an understanding of the interplay of family, community, and culture in the lives of women of color.  

The award honors women of color from around the state for their leadership in making significant contributions to their campuses and communities. Honorees are recognized for their work in fostering social justice and organizational change and advancing the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Since the award’s inception, more than 400 women of color have been recognized for their transformational work. 

Individuals who are faculty, staff, students, or community members and fit the established criteria are eligible for this award. 

Successful candidates are women of color whose contributions have advanced the work of diversity, equity, and Inclusive Excellence in the following ways: 

• Whose advocacy, activism, or scholarship has fostered social justice and organizational change; 
• Who have created a positive transformation within their institutions and/or the community to achieve the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and 

• Whose efforts are improving the climate for, or status of, people of color. 

Selection of the Award Winner will be determined by a committee of: 

• Chancellor 
• Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion 
• Affirmative Action Officer 
• Director, Office of Multicultural Student Services 
• Director, Pride Center 

Race, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department Representative 

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: May 26, 2023

QUALTRICS LINK: https://uwlax.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_07GhHBKCboY9DuK

*Yearly winner of this award will be presented as the UWL representative at the Regents Diversity Awards. 

Previous recipients: