STAR Award Categories

Nominations are being accepted for each of the following categories. An individual may also self-submit an application for the following categories: Promotion of Diversity, Innovation by a Team, Excellence in Assessment, and Outstanding New Program. An individual, team, or program may be considered for multiple award categories.

• Promotion of Diversity*

  • Presented to an individual or team
  • Promoted an appreciation, understanding, or celebration of differences through the delivery of a program and/or through personal actions
  • Encouraged community and informed respect for differences among students, faculty, and staff by fostering an inclusive environment that prepares students to be engaged participants in a global society
  • Made an ongoing effort to increase the diversity of the Illinois State University community through active recruitment, retention, and/or empowerment of underrepresented groups
  • Sought to learn about and cultivate relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and beyond the daily expectations of his/her position

• Innovation by a Team*

  • Combined cooperative efforts of a team to develop and/or deliver an innovative response to student needs
  • Demonstrated benefit of innovation to students and participating units
  • Demonstrated achievement of expectations in developing and/or delivering an innovative response to student needs
  • Received outstanding evaluation of innovative response from students who were impacted

• Excellence in Assessment*

  • Presented to an individual or team
  • Demonstrated benefit of assessment to students, relevant department(s), Division of Student Affairs, and/or Illinois State University
  • Received outstanding feedback on the use of assessment data
  • Results disseminated to stakeholders
  • Preference given to projects that focus on student outcomes or projects that utilize non-survey measures

• Outstanding New Program, Project or Use of Technology*

  • Developed a new program, project, or use of technology to meet specific outcome(s) in accordance with EducatingIllinois core values
  • Developed and implemented an outstanding new program, project, or use of technology within the last two years
  • Demonstrated achievement of program, project, or use of technology's stated outcome(s)
  • Received outstanding evaluations from participants

• Outstanding Civil Service Staff Member

  • Classified as a Civil Service staff member
  • Employed within the Division of Student Affairs for three or more years
  • Demonstrated superior job performance above and beyond expectations
  • Demonstrated pride in work and displayed a positive attitude toward responsibilities and people
  • Demonstrated commitment to the Division of Student Affairs and Illinois State University through service on committees, engaging in actions that support department, Division, and University values, and/or engaging in collaborative efforts across the department, the Division of StudentAffairs, and/or the University

• Outstanding A/P Staff Member

  • Classified as an A/P staff member
  • Employed within the Division of Student Affairs for three or more years
  • Demonstrated superior job performance above and beyond expectations
  • Demonstrated pride in work and displayed a positive attitude toward responsibilities and people
  • Demonstrated commitment to the Division of Student Affairs and Illinois State University through service on committees, engaging in actions that support department, Division, and University values, and/or engaging in collaborative efforts across the University
  • Demonstrated involvement in professional activities (presentations at conferences, committee work for a professional association, office held in a professional association, or publications)
  • Directors and above are not eligible for this award

• Outstanding New Staff Member

  • Classified as an A/P or Civil Service staff member
  • Employed within the Division of Student Affairs for less than three years
  • Demonstrated superior job performance
  • Demonstrated pride in work and displayed a positive attitude toward responsibilities and people
  • Demonstrated commitment to the Division of Student Affairs and Illinois State University through service on committees, engaging in actions that support department, Division, and University values, and/or engaging in collaborative efforts across the University

• Outstanding Graduate Assistant

  • Classified as a graduate assistant
  • Completed at least one semester of graduate work
  • Demonstrated superior job performance
  • Demonstrated pride in work and displayed a positive attitude toward responsibilities and people

  • Demonstrated commitment to the Division of Student Affairs and Illinois State University through service on committees, engaging in actions that support department, Division, and University values, and/or engaging in collaborative efforts across the University

• Outstanding Mentor

  • Demonstrated outstanding commitment by an individual to the mentoring process for a staff member or student
  • Provided a mentoring relationship that enhanced the educational experience/professional development for an individual at Illinois State University

• Partner to the STARs (New Category)

  • This award celebrates staff or faculty outside of the Division of Student Affairs who have significantly contributed to supporting an initiative, effort, program, or goal in collaboration with or for staff from the Division of Student Affairs.

• STAR Moment of the Year

  • Selected from STAR Moment award recipients of the previous 12 months

*These categories can be either nominations or self-submissions.

Direct questions to Angell Howard, Chair of the Professional Development Committee, at (309) 438-0803.