Awards: Celebrate Excellence

Student Success Champion Awards

The Student Success Champion Awards recognize individuals, departments, programs, and organizations at Oakland University whose work advances student success, retention, belonging, and timely degree completion.

We encourage faculty and staff—including self-nominators—to submit nominations. We also invite students to nominate those who have made a meaningful difference in their academic experience.

Award Categories

• Faculty Member or Academic Department This award recognizes a faculty member or academic department/program that demonstrates exceptional commitment to advancing student success through teaching excellence, curricular innovation, mentoring, advising, or inclusive academic practices. Honorees design learning environments that promote engagement, retention, and achievement, reduce barriers, and foster belonging, confidence and academic momentum.
• Staff Member or Department/Office This award recognizes a staff member, department, or office whose work has made a measurable impact on student success retention, or the overall student experience. Honorees advance student success through student-centered service, collaboration, and effective operations that improve access, navigation, and outcomes, often behind the scenes but essential to institutional effectiveness.
• Student or Student Organization This award recognizes an undergraduate or graduate student, or a student organization, that demonstrates outstanding leadership in advancing peer success, belonging, and the academic experience. Honorees lead with purpose, strengthening student success through mentorship, advocacy, service, and engagement.
• Cross-Functional or Collaborative Team This award recognizes a cross-functional or collaborative team whose collective efforts have had a meaningful, measurable impact on student success. Eligible teams may include individuals from multiple categories (faculty, staff, students) and/or multiple departments or offices. Recipients demonstrate how collaboration, shared responsibility, and coordinated action strengthen student learning, retention, and belonging.

Nomination Details

• Deadline: March 11, 2026 at 5 PM. Nominations are now closed for 2026.
• Recognition: Award recipients announced at the State of Academic Affairs: Advancing Academic Excellence on March 31, 2026.
• How to Nominate: You may submit nominations in any or all categories. Each nomination requires a separate submission.

Evaluation Criteria

Nominations should describe the nominee’s contribution to student success at OU, including specific examples of initiatives or actions. Submissions should highlight:

• How the work supports student learning, retention, belonging, or timely degree completion.
• What sets the individual or group apart (going above and beyond).
• Measurable outcomes or evidence of impact (e.g., improved engagement, satisfaction, or academic success).