SDSU Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award
Nomination Cover Page
(Adapted from Harvard GSAS Graduate Student Council)
Please note:
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All nominating materials must be received by December 1, 2015
All nominating materials must be submitted electronically.
Nominations must be sent as a single attachment to:
Nicole.Lounsbery@sdstate.edu
Part I. Contact Information
A. Faculty nominee information:
a. Name:
b. Title:
c. Department/College:
d. Email:
B. Nominator information:
a. Name:
b. Title:
c. Department/College:
d. Email:
C. Additional nominator information (each nominator may solicit additional
nominations from faculty or students who are familiar with the mentoring
achievements of the nominee. Please check below whether this is an independent
or collective nomination).
____This is an independent nomination.
____This is part of a collective nomination. If so, please list the
name(s) and emails(s) of your collaborators (limited to six total).
Collective nominations should include one Statement of Nomination
and additional support letters.
Part II. Statement of Nomination
Please submit a brief statement of nomination describing your relationship with the faculty nominee
and how he/she has distinguished himself/herself as a mentor to graduate students at SDSU. Feel
free to share specific stories and anecdotes as appropriate. In short, how has the nominee’s
mentoring enhanced graduate student education and professional and personal development? You
may wish to consult the awards criteria that follow. All nominations will be kept strictly confidential.
Please enter your statement of nomination here.
By submitting this form, I am signing my name to the above information and declaring that it is true,
to the best of my knowledge. Unless waived below, I grant the SDSU Graduate School permission to
anonymously quote from my nomination statement, either as part of the awards ceremony, or in
follow-up advocacy efforts promoting good practices in mentorship.
___Please do NOT cite my letter (INITIAL).
South Dakota State University
Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award
The SDSU Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring Award was established by the Graduate Council
in 2010 to honor faculty members who have truly shown excellence in mentoring graduate students.
The award honors faculty for efforts in supporting, encouraging and promoting their graduate
students’ research, education, professional and personal development, and career plans.
Nominations will be reviewed by a task force of the Graduate Council and recommendations made to
the Dean of the Graduate School. One Graduate Student Mentoring Award, including a certificate and
cash award, will be presented annually at the faculty recognition event. In addition to honoring
individual faculty members, it is hoped that these mentors will serve as models for the entire faculty.
Nomination Criteria
Graduate student success is critically dependent on mentoring relationships developed with the major
advisor as well as other faculty. Your nomination of a faculty member for an excellence in mentoring
award should describe how the mentor has been outstanding in supporting, encouraging and
promoting research, learning, professional and personal development and careers of graduate
students. Give specific examples and stories. Following are some qualities/roles which can contribute
to good mentoring (not all are required for nomination):
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academic advisor
research guide
organizer of an effective research and scholarship environment
developer of talents: research skills, teaching ability, presentations, writing, preparation of
grant and/or fellowship applications
sponsor for student in the professional community
advocate and guide in administrative, organizational and professional matters
successful role model
concern for students as people and support for their personal development
long-term commitment to mentoring
commitment to diversity, recognizing the value of diverse cultures and ways of thinking
Restrictions
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The faculty nominee must have mentored one or more SDSU graduate students.
The faculty nominee must be a current, full-time SDSU employee
Collaborative nominations may not have more than six contributions
All nominations will be kept strictly confidential