Eligibility & Guidelines

Colleges, institutes, polytechnics, and cégeps have traditionally played a learning leadership role in the communities they serve. Although the entire institution participates, inevitably, certain individuals make an outstanding contribution each year. Each college or institute may submit up to two (2) nominations in this category.The Leadership Excellence Award for Students recognizes an individual student that has made an exceptional contribution within their institution and within the communities it serves. This Award is for currently enrolled students.

Criteria

The review will be based on the following criteria.

• Internal Impact: Evidence of significant and verifiable impact on the institution, as well as on student life and on the greater community at large. (40 points)
• External Impact: Evidence that the nominee or team has made an important contribution through community involvement in developing the institution’s positive image. (25 points)
• Consistency: Assurance that these leadership skills have been consistently evidenced over no less than 12 months and have had a sustainable effect on the institution. (20 points)
• Academic Excellence: Verifiable evidence that the student’s grade point average is at or above the mean in the program in which they are registered. Include a transcript and descriptive summary of awards received, participation in committees, etc. (15 points)

Colleges, institutes, polytechnics, and cégeps have traditionally played a learning leadership role in the communities they serve. Although the entire institution participates, inevitably, certain individuals make an outstanding contribution each year. Each college or institute may submit up to two (2) nominations in this category.The Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty recognizes an individual or a team who has exhibited consistent excellence in teaching and has had a significant impact on the personal and academic growth of students. The nominee or team must be currently employed by the institution. The team can consist of a maximum of five (5) individuals and the nomination must focus on their collective contribution.

Criteria

The review will be based on the following criteria.

• Commitment: The nominee or team has shown a consistent commitment to student success and to developing methodologies, materials, and processes which have contributed to student success. (20 points)
• Leadership in Teaching: The nominee or team has provided a leadership role model for teaching colleagues and students. (20 points)
• Impact: The nominee’s or team’s work has had a recognized and substantial impact on students (employment, success rate), colleagues (through professional development and example) and the institution (reputation in the subject area). (20 points)
• Sustainability: The nominee’s or team’s commitment has been broadly evident over their career to date. (20 points)
• Adaptability: One of the nominee’s or team’s strengths is the ability to adapt teaching styles, methodologies, or materials to fit student needs and available resources. (20 points)

Colleges, institutes, polytechnics, and cégeps have traditionally played a learning leadership role in the communities they serve. Although the entire institution participates, inevitably, certain individuals make an outstanding contribution each year.The Leadership Excellence Award for Managerial Staff recognizes an individual or a team who has made an exceptional contribution within their institution and within the communities it serves. The nominee or team must be currently employed by the institution and play a managerial role. Each college or institute may submit up to two (2) nominations in this category. The team can consist of a maximum of five (5) individuals, the nomination must focus on their collective contribution, and CEOs and board members are not eligible for this award.

Criteria

The review will be based on the following criteria.

• Impact: The nominee or team has had a significant, positive and verifiable impact on his/her institution and, thus, the internal and external communities it serves. (25 points)
• Community Involvement: The nominee or team has shown leadership in working with external community partners. (20 points)
• Team Work: The nominee or team has involved others in activities and provided a motivational influence. (20 points)
• Creativity: Evidence of creativity has been shown in meeting challenges with available resources. (20 points)
• Sustained Leadership: Evidence that these leadership skills have been consistently applied over an extended period. (15 points)

Colleges, institutes, polytechnics, and cégeps have traditionally played a learning leadership role in the communities they serve. Although the entire institution participates, inevitably, certain individuals make an outstanding contribution each year. The Leadership Excellence Award for Non-Managerial Staff recognizes an individual or a team who has made an exceptional contribution within their institution and within the communities it serves. The nominee or team must be currently employed by the institution and play a non-managerial role. Each college or institute may submit up to two (2) nominations in this category. The team can consist of a maximum of five (5) individuals, the nomination must focus on their collective contribution, and CEOs and board members are not eligible for this award.

Criteria

The review will be based on the following criteria.

• Institutional Impact: Evidence that the nominee or team has had a significant, positive and verifiable impact on her/his institution and the greater community at large. (30 points)
• Team Work: Evidence that the nominee or team has involved others in activities and provided a motivational influence. (25 points)
• Performance and Contribution: The nominee or team has demonstrated exemplary performance of duties and has contributed overall to the institution through involvement on committees, volunteer work, etc. The institution, students and community at large have benefited from their participation, contributions and involvement in activities, both internally and externally. (25 points)
• Creativity: Evidence of creativity in meeting challenges with available resources. (20 points)

The Program Excellence Award recognizes a program or an initiative that is innovative, portable, sustainable, and effective. and focuses on one or more of the following areas: Indigenous Education; Sustainable Development; Global Engagement; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Applied Research and Innovation. The Program should involve several institutional constituents (faculty, students, staff, administration, and governors). The Program should also involve at least one external industry or community partner. Each college or institute may submit up to two (2) nominations in this category. Please note that for the purposes of this award, a program is considered a series of related courses, internships, and/or work integration, that result in a post-secondary credential.

Criteria

Submissions will be reviewed according to the following criteria and all evidence presented should be from within the previous 5 years.

• Effectiveness: Data-driven evidence that the program has been effective with learners and has reached or surpassed its objectives. (25 points)
• Participation: Evidence that the program involves several institutional constituents (faculty, students, staff, administration, and governors) and at least one external industry or community partner. (20 points)
• Sustainability: The program is meeting a long term substantial need and serves a group of learners over a significant period. (20 points)
• Innovation: Evidence of innovative practices in an existing program or the creation of a new program in response to a learning need not adequately being met. Programs nominated for this Award are not commonly available in this format across the college/institute system. (20 points)
• Portability: Ease of transfer of content and/or delivery mode to other institutions. The program does not rely on the existence of unique infrastructure or geographic location and can be offered in another location or region. (15 points)

Nominations must be submitted by 23:59 EST Monday, February 24, 2025.

Each nomination should include the following:

• Endorsement Letter: The endorsement letter must be included and signed by the President or Director General of the institution.
• Executive Summary: The executive summary should provide a condensed overview of the key elements of the nomination in no more than 750 characters. The executive summary of gold recipients will be included in the Awards Showcase and on the CICan website.
• Biographical Summary of the Nominee or Team: For Leadership Excellence Award nominees. This should provide a condensed overview of the key elements of the nomination in no more than 750 characters, but should not be presented in a CV format.
• Evidence: The nomination must provide evidence that supports each of the criteria.
• Supporting Testimonials: More than one testimonial may be included on the same page.
• Photo of Nominee: A high-resolution color photo in JPG format is required. For the Leadership Excellence Awards, a headshot photo of the nominee or color photo of the team is best, for the other awards, a group photo (students and instructors or in the field) is best. Please attach the file separately.
• Contact information: Please provide contact information for CICan follow up.

Note: Gold recipients will be asked to provide a one (1) minute video clip to be shown at the conference.

We encourage the consideration of representation and visibility in selecting the Leadership Excellence nominees.

Upon receipt of the completed nomination, an acknowledgment email will be sent to the person who submitted the nomination.

Awards of Excellence recipients will be recognized virtually at the June 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Each nomination is reviewed by an independent selection committee with representation from across CICan member institutions. Peer reviewers participate on a voluntary basis and a reviewer cannot sit on more than one selection committee. Every nomination is reviewed independently from one another and a nomination will not be reviewed by someone from the same institution as the nominee. Learn more about the selection process.