Award Description

The Provost's Award for Community Partnerships recognizes outstanding faculty who have developed and sustained meaningful partnership(s) with external organizations, businesses, and/or communities. Whether through a single impactful partnership or multiple collaborations, these efforts must demonstrate a tangible impact, contribute to the public good, and reflect the university’s commitment to addressing community needs through collaboration, innovation, and the advancement of shared goals. The term ‘community’ may be interpreted broadly, including the Harrisonburg/Rockingham area, the Shenandoah Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia, or beyond.

Nominations for this award will be accepted from instructional and administrative faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. Self-nominations will not be accepted. 

Rubric Criteria

1. Engagement and Development of JMU Talent
   To what extent were JMU faculty, staff, or students actively involved? What educational or professional development outcomes were achieved? How did this person/project/initiative contribute to developing JMU talent?
2. Outcomes and Impact on the Community
   To what extent were tangible outcomes achieved through the partnership(s), and what was/were the direct impact(s) on the community or organization? Please include any of the following:
   • Evidence of positive, measurable change resulting from the partnership(s).
   • Evidence of the economic, social, or educational development of the community/organization.
3. Impact and Grounding in National Frameworks
   To what extent did the partnership(s)’ outcomes align with and contribute to broader frameworks for community engagement, particularly APLU’s Talent, Innovation, and Place (TIP) framework and the Carnegie Community Engagement framework.
   • Alignment with Talent: Demonstrates the development and support of human capital through education, workforce development, or community skill-building.
   • Alignment with Innovation: Reflects creativity in addressing local or regional challenges, fostering economic growth, or creating novel solutions to community needs.
   • Alignment with Place: Shows a strong connection to place-based partnerships, addressing specific needs of the local community while enhancing the cultural, social, and economic well-being of the region.
   • Carnegie Community Engagement Framework: Demonstrates mutually beneficial collaboration between the university and the community, reflecting reciprocity, shared authority, and measurable impact on both parties.

The following information should be included in the nomination:

• Nomination letter signed by department leadership
• Personal statement from nominee
• Samples of work, awards, acknowledgements, etc.

Important Dates

• Nominations are submitted to Dr. Nick Swartz by Friday, January 31, 2025.
• Award winners will be honored at the Academic Affairs Awards Recognition Luncheon on Thursday, May 1, 2025 and receive a $1,000 honorarium.