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Think Ahead:

Retain society memberships and be as active as possible in those groups.
Consider planning 3-5 years ahead for honorific award goals. Some awards have a pre-determined length of membership as a requirement for consideration.
For department chairs, consider which internal DU awards might be a fit for your faculty. These will demonstrate growth and achievement when being nominated for external opportunities.
Contact us if you would like help in drafting a plan for your honorific goals.

Prep for Success

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Update your CV and try to review it quarterly.
Consider starting with a 2 to 5-page summary written for a general review audience.
Provide your CV in a digital location, such as Digication.

Sample Draft Layout:

Pg 1: Summary of positions, research interests, and education
Pgs 2 & 3: Career summary within key categories of accomplishment
Pgs 4 & 5: Bibliography: Your 12 (or less) key publications
- Provide a succinct summary below each publication.
Pgs 6+: Your updated CV in full

Online Visibility

What does a Google search on your name reveal?
Which web pages do you have editing control over?
How often are you keeping those up to date?

Sites to Consider:

Nomination Tips

Know your Award

Follow these steps to make sure you understand if the award truly matches your experience and length of tenure.

The most important step in applying for an honorific award is making sure that you fit the type of applicant they're looking for ... BEFORE you even begin the process!
- What are the prerequisites of eligibility?
  
  Is it specifically for a certain period of academic career?
  
  Does it require a length of active professional membership prior to nomination?
  
  When looking at the past winners of the award, does it still align with your strengths and seem like a good fit?
- Research the requirements of the application process at least 2-3 months prior to the nomination deadline.
- Make note of the how the award application should be submitted and be sure to follow all nomination instructions.
Nomination Letter Writing

How to write the most helpful nomination or letter of reference.

Emphasizing impacts, accomplishments, and uniqueness of an applicant will make for a stronger reference.
Tell the nominee’s story in a way that:
- Helps reviewers to get to know the candidate and their work;
- Emphasizes and explains the impacts and accomplishments of the nominee’s contributions within and potentially across disciplines using concrete examples; and
- Avoids jargon and canned language.
Use Impactful Statements:
- Highlight what the nominee has accomplished; and
- The effect it has had both on their field and potentially even outside their field.
It’s wise to address:
- What makes this applicant unique?
- Other aspects of the candidate’s profile, such as: service, mentoring, and leadership.
- How does this candidate meet the specific requirements of the award?