The Award

Past recipients

2023 Recipients

Congratulations to Michelle Loyd-Paige and Pennylyn Dykstra-Pruim, the recipients of the Collaborative Change Faculty Award!

Purpose of the Award

The Teamwork Award recognizes the positive effects that teams of colleagues can have on shaping the professional, academic culture of Calvin University. Many of ways in which faculty teach, conduct research, offer service, practice collegiality, mentor students and colleagues, and so on, have their origins in the work of small groups of people who developed a vision and dedicated themselves to implementing that vision.

Eligibility

This award is open to groups comprised of university faculty or staff or both. The groups may have been formally established and given a clear mandate or informally gathered around a common interest. Examples include a committee (standing or ad hoc), a reading group, leaders of a summer seminar, etc. This is not necessarily an annual award.

Selection Criteria

Award recipients will have initiated and given traction to some idea that resulted in changes and improvements that eventually became part of the university culture and landscape. The award will be based on the following criteria:

  • The group will be found to have effected clear and lasting change in the professional practices of Calvin University faculty and staff.
  • The group members will have devoted at least a full year to working together to develop concepts and plans and to implement change.

Although preference is given to cross-disciplinary changes, major changes that take place within a department will also be considered.

Process for Selection

The dean for institutional effectiveness will take the lead in soliciting possible nominations from all members of the Academic Council. In looking for appropriate nominations, council members will look for noteworthy changes that have been in effect for a number of years, changes that can be traced back to a group of people. In consultation with the provost and the Academic Council, the dean for institutional effectiveness will present a slate of up to three groups of colleagues who might merit the award to the Professional Status Committee. The Professional Status Committee will select the award winners by December 1.

Past Recipients

2021

  • Cheryl Brandsen (sociology, provost)

2019

  • Todd Dornbos (provost’s office)
  • Christina Edmondson (intercultural student development)
  • Lauren Jensen (enrollment)
  • Tom Steenwyk (center for student success)
  • John Walcott (education)
  • Paul Witte (financial aid)

2015

2012