NCCI Calls for 2012 Leveraging Excellence Award Applications

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education (NCCI) announced that it is accepting applications for the 2012 Leveraging Excellence Awards. Applications are due by February 15. This prestigious peer-reviewed award recognizes effective academic and administrative practices that have been successfully implemented beyond one department, campus, or institution, resulting in significant impact on quality, efficiency, service, or learning.

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"Higher education institutions are under intense pressure to reduce costs and operate more efficiently," said Kathryn Burkgren, NCCI President. "By recognizing programs that have been successfully implemented beyond one department, campus, or institution, the Leveraging Excellence Awards help promote and share innovative ideas, so institutions can learn and benefit from the experiences of their peers."

The Leveraging Excellence Awards program is sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group, the leading provider of bookstore services and the foremost supplier of used books in North America. The company embodies the spirit of the award by working with a network of more than 900 schools to implement programs that help institutions more effectively manage their bookstore operations. Just this fall the company helped save students more than $90 million through its popular Rent-A-Text textbook rental service. Since it launched in 2010, the company has executed Rent-A-Text in partnership with hundreds of universities and saved students more than $215 million.

Leveraged for Greater Impact

Previous NCCI Leveraging Excellence Award recipients represent some of the brightest thinkers at some of the most forward-thinking institutions in higher education, from universities to educational groups and coalitions. For example, in 2011, University of California-Berkeley claimed the award with its "UC Ready" program that helped the university and other institutions prepare for disasters. The university built a robust web-based continuity planning tool that could be easily adopted by others. To date, more than 60 institutions have implemented the program.

Application Process and Panel Review

To apply, applicants should complete an online form at the NCCI website at http://www.ncci-cu.org/awardapplication/. Applications for the award are open to all higher education institutions and organizations in the United States. The deadline to apply for the awards program is 11:59 PM EST on February 15, 2012.

Winners will be recognized and invited to present their accomplishments during NCCI's 13th Annual Conference, July 26-28, 2012 in Alexandria, Virginia.

A distinguished panel of presidents, leaders of universities and educational groups will make final selections for the award, after initial review and screening by a group of NCCI leaders. This year's Award Selection Panel will include: Ronald Crutcher, President of Wheaton College; Muriel Howard, President of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Lou Anna K. Simon, President, Michigan State University; David J. Skorton, President, Cornell University; and Mohammad Qayoumi, President of California State University, East Bay.

For more information on the award, including previous award winner submissions, visit http://www.ncci-cu.org/go/awards/leveraging-excellence-award/leveraging-excellence-program-overview

About NCCI

NCCI represents a wide range of member institutions, with many individuals working in organizational development, quality assessment, planning, and institutional improvement. Its programs promote sharing best practices and supporting professional development of individual members. To learn more about NCCI and the Leveraging Excellence program, and to view information on past Leveraging Excellence Award winners and the annual conference where the awards will be presented, please visit www.ncci-cu.org.

For more information about previous Leveraging Excellence Award winners visit: http://www.ncci-cu.org/go/awards/leveraging-excellence-award/winners

About Follett Higher Education Group

Follett Higher Education Group of Oak Brook, Illinois, is the leading provider of bookstore services and the foremost supplier of used books in North America. Follett services five million students and over 400,000 faculty members through more than 900 stores. Follett also services more than 1,600 independent campus stores with its wholesale services, and has the most visited ecommerce collegiate website, efollett.com, that provides services and products through a network of more than 1000 campus stores.

SOURCE Follett Higher Education Group