I. GPSA Senate Awards (Senator and College Representative of the Year Awards)

The Senator of the Year and College Representative of the Year awards are governed separately from the Graduate Student Excellence Awards. These awards fall under the responsibility of the GPSA Executive Board and are not part of the operations of the Awards and Scholarship Committee.

Eligibility and Award Criteria (Administered by the GPSA Executive Board)

  1. Eligibility:
    • Senator of the Year: Awarded to a GPSA senator who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, advocacy, and responsibility in committee work and fulfilling the duties of their role.
    • College Representative of the Year: Awarded to a College Representative who has significantly contributed to the goals of GPSA in their respective committees and advocated for their college's graduate and professional students.

Award Restrictions:

    • A previous Senator of the Year or College Representative of the Year awardee is not eligible to be nominated for either of these two awards again in consecutive years. This ensures other hardworking senators and college representatives are duly recognized.
    • However, previous Senator of the Year or College Representative of the Year awardees may be eligible for future Graduate Student Excellence Awards, provided they meet the criteria for those awards.
  1. Award Criteria:
    • Leadership and Advocacy: Demonstrated ability to lead and represent the graduate student body in their respective capacities.
    • Engagement and Commitment: Actively participated in GPSA activities and worked diligently to further the interests of graduate and professional students at WSU.
    • Impact: Tangible impact through advocacy efforts, committee contributions, or other leadership activities.
  2. Nomination Process:
    • Nominations for Senator of the Year and College Representative of the Year are reviewed and selected by the GPSA Executive Board. Nominations will be based on committee work, leadership, engagement, and service to the GPSA community.
    • Nominations for these roles are internal and specific to current GPSA senators only.
  3. Distinct Nature of the GPSA Senate Awards:
    • The GPSA Senate Awards are distinct and separate from the Graduate Student Excellence Awards and are not under the purview of the Awards and Scholarship Committee. These awards are administered directly by the GPSA Executive Board, and the Awards and Scholarship Committee has no role in the selection process for these awards.

 

II. Graduate Student Excellence Awards

The Graduate Student Excellence Awards recognize exceptional graduate students (and faculty with respect to Academic Advisor award) who have demonstrated excellence in various categories such as academic achievement, research, teaching, community engagement, and leadership. Click here for category specific instructions and rubric [ ].

  1. Eligibility:
    • The nominee must be a current graduate or professional student (except for Academic Advisor award) who has demonstrated outstanding performance in one of the following categories:
      • Academic Advisor
      • Graduate Staff Assistant
      • Graduate Research Assistant
      • Graduate Teaching Assistant
      • Graduate Student Instructor
      • Registered Student Organization (RSO)
      • Community Engagement
      • Leadership Award
    • Self-nominations are not allowed. Nominations can be submitted by peers, undergraduate students (for teaching and instructor awards) advisors, or faculty.
  2. Nomination Process:
    • Nominations will be accepted through the GPSA nomination platform advertised on the website.
    • Nominations must be submitted by the established deadline, with supporting documentation where appropriate.
    • The review process prioritizes the quality of answers to nominations and not quantity of nominations received.
  3. Award Criteria:
    • Excellence in Role: Evidence of outstanding performance and contributions in the specific category.
    • Impact: Clear evidence of positive impact on the WSU graduate student community or the broader university community.
    • Commitment: Demonstrated dedication to the success of others, including peers, faculty, and the university community.
  4. Award Restrictions:
    • An individual may only win one award in the Graduate Student Excellence Awards. If a nominee is selected for multiple categories, they may only receive one award, based on the category that most aligns with their contributions.
    • Previous Winners: Any previous Graduate Student Excellence awardee is not eligible for re-nomination in any future years, regardless of category. This ensures inclusivity and gives other deserving students the opportunity to be recognized for their contributions.
  5. Eligibility for Multiple Awards:
    • A nominee may be nominated in multiple categories, but they will only receive one award. This rule helps ensure that all students are given an opportunity to win an and prevents concentration of multiple awards on a single individual.

6.  Evaluation of Nominees:

    • All nominees will be evaluated according to the specific rubric designed for each award category. The rubric ensures fairness and consistency in evaluation.
    • The GPSA Awards and Scholarship Committee will review the nominations and select the winners.
  1. Award Selection:
    • Each category will be evaluated independently based on the criteria outlined. If multiple nominations are received for a single category, the committee will ensure a rigorous review process to determine the most deserving nominee.
  2. Award Announcement:
    • Awardees will be notified in advance and announced at the GPSA Awards Banquet.