NCCI Calls for 2013 Leveraging Excellence Award Applications

WEST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education (NCCI) announced that it is accepting applications for the 2013 Leveraging Excellence Awards. Applications are due by February 15, 2013.  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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"For most of us in education, there is an intense pressure to reduce costs and operate more efficiently," said Kathryn Burkgren, NCCI President.  "With these NCCI awards, we recognize the very best programs which have been successfully implemented beyond a single department, campus, or institution. The Leveraging Excellence Awards help promote and share innovative ideas, so other institutions can learn and benefit from the experiences of their peers to advance higher education."

The Leveraging Excellence Awards program is sponsored by Follett Higher Education Group, the leading provider of educational services and the foremost supplier of course materials 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 to greatly enhance student and institutional success.  This past fall, Follett announced it has driven more than $1 billion in student savings since 2010 – anchored largely by Rent-A-Text and their collection of digital content offerings.    

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, the 2012 Leveraging Excellence Award recognized the Excellence in Higher Education (EHE) model, which addresses the challenge of meaningfully integrating assessment, planning and improvement efforts in colleges and universities. Dr. Brent Ruben and the Rutgers University Center for Organizational Development and Leadership developed the program. About 4,000 copies of EHE have been distributed and EHE programs have been implemented in about 40 colleges and universities. Eight participating institutions participated in the award ceremony.

Also recognized in 2012 was the Business-Higher Education Forum (BHEF), which has crafted a national strategy and identified evidence-based practices to increase STEM student retention, particularly among women and underrepresented minorities; deepen STEM learning; and align undergraduate education to regional workforce requirements. Through its higher education partners, leaders at many colleges and universities are embracing BHEF systemic reform solutions and the BHEF U.S. STEM Education Model to introduce techniques which encourage completion with STEM programs and to meet major workforce needs.

Application Process and Panel Review
To apply, applicants should complete an online form at the NCCI website (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, 2013.

Winners will be recognized and invited to present their accomplishments during NCCI's 14th Annual Conference, July 11-13 in Indianapolis, IN.

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; 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/awards/leveraging-excellence-award

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; National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education