Inclusive Excellence Awards

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Awards and Award Categories

There are two award categories as part of the IEA process.  

1. Lifetime Contributions to inclusivity at MSU recognizes long-term, exemplary efforts made during a nominee’s time at Michigan State University toward advancing inclusion in enduring ways that have enhanced the institution’s policies, work, climate and/or organization. Packets in this category must demonstrate that nominees have collaborated with others at the university and/or external communities to build and support the work. One Lifetime Achievement award may be given each year.
2. Excellence in Inclusion recognizes emerging and/or sustained efforts made toward inclusion in the thematic categories listed below. Nominations should address one or more of these themes. Multiple awards are given out each year across all categories to individuals, teams, organizations and units. Themes for nominations are: 
   1. Advancing Knowledge and Scholarly Engagement – recognizes domestic and/or global research and scholarship that broadens understanding and appreciation of inclusion. Whether a rigorous research project or equally rigorous creative expression—in print, film and video, music, art or digital presentation, exhibit or website—the quality and extent of perspectives and discourses are advanced by nominees making such contributions. 
   2. Fostering Engagement, Collaboration(s) and Partnerships(s) – recognizes nominees’ efforts to connect with domestic and/or global partners to catalyze change and create a more just and inclusive society. Emphasis for the work should highlight ongoing, reciprocal interaction between the nominee and an internal or external partner who collaborates to address community needs in ethical and culturally appropriate ways. 
   3. Advocating Justice and Access – recognizes nominees’ work to actively redress unjust barriers; challenge discrimination or bias; and/or address lack of access and resources as related to historic and contemporary injustices in institutional, local, national and/or global contexts. Emphasis for the work should feature ongoing work, promote social justice and address barriers to resources. 
   4. Promoting Learning and Educating for Inclusivity – recognizes nominees’ efforts to promote and educate internal and external communities about domestic and/or global issues of social justice and inclusion through communication, non-formal education, curriculum design, advising and teaching. The emphasis should be on the design and implementation of educationally based efforts to enhance awareness, acceptance and action related to inclusive excellence.  
   5. Creating Transformative Organizational Change – recognizes nominees’ efforts to promote changing structures and cultures within MSU to create an environment in which inclusion can grow and thrive. Emphasis for the work could be either large-scale change or incremental action towards a more just and inclusive place for community members to live, work and learn. 

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IEA Awardees

Recipients of the IEA will be honored in the following ways:

• Awardees will receive certificates.
• A special one-hour award ceremony will be held in February.
• The ceremony will be open and free to the public.
• The program will begin with a welcome by co-MCs from the IEA selection team, followed by congratulatory remarks.
• Light refreshments will be served.