Lee Knefelkamp Research Award
Description
This award encourages and supports student development and student affairs research done by professionals, practitioners, graduate students, and faculty. Research must be completed within the past 2 years or currently in progress, and research proposals should promote further understanding of student development and/or investigate or enhance the impact of student affairs/services on campus.
Eligibility
Open to all professionals in the field of student affairs and/or academic affairs, including graduate students.
About the Namesake
Dr. Lee Knefelkamp has researched and written about student intellectual, ethical, identity and intercultural development; curriculum transformation; issues of race, ethnicity, and gender; campus climate assessment; and the psychology of organizational change and resistance to change. Dr. Knefelkamp is considered one of the United States pioneering scholars in the area of intellectual and ethical development.
Linda Schrempp Alberg Outstanding Contribution to Minnesota Higher Education
Description
The purpose of this award is to honor a professional whose work with students and service at one of Minnesota’s institutions of hihger education sets an example for all student development professionals.
Eligibility
Open to all practicing student affairs professionals or professionals retired from a Minnesota institution of higher education.
About the Namesake
In 1997, the Minnesota Contribution Award was renamed to honor Linda Schrempp Alberg, MCPA's president from 1983-1984. This award honors Linda for the characteristics she showed in the field, including leadership potential, nurturing of others, effective communication skills, creativity, proactive style, and fairness.
Lud Spolyar Distinguished Service Award
Description
As the most prestigious association award, this award recognizes a current or past MCPA member for outstanding service to the Association and/or the student affairs profession.
Eligibility
Open to any individual who is a current or past MCPA member.
About the Namesake
Lud Spolyar was the founding President of MCPA in 1969-1970.
Innovations in Student Development Award
Description
This "best practices" award is designed to facilitate the sharing of new ideas and show appreciation for the work of our colleagues. The program must:
●Be an implemented strategy or campus program that is timely to the profession or provides a new or creative approach to a student development or campus issue, and
●Have an impact on the nominee's campus.
Eligibility
Open to all professionals in the field of student affairs and/or academic affairs, including graduate students.
Future Obligations
The recipient of this award will be asked to present about their innovative practices at a future MCPA event.
New Professionals of the Year Award
Description
This award recognizes an ambitious and dedicated new student development professional who has provided outstanding service to one’s institution, the field of student affairs and/or higher education, and/or has provided innovative or creative programs and services.
Eligibility
Any professional having up to 5 years experience in the field (outside of graduate internships and assistantship experiences).
Outstanding Fall Conference Program Award
Description
This award is given to the presenter(s) of the highest rated program at the Fall Conference.
Eligibility
Presenter(s) must be registered and paid for the Fall Conference, and at least 5 evaluations for that program must be completed and turned into the Fall Conference Planning Committee for review.
Future Obligations
The recipient(s) of this award will be asked to present this presentation at a future MCPA event.
Retirement Awards
Description & Eligibility
All retiring professionals whose professional career is affiliated with student affairs and/or academic affairs will be honored at the MCPA conference.
Voice of Inclusion Award
Description
The Voice of Inclusion Award recognizes initiatives or individuals who serve within higher education by creating exemplary environments of inclusion for students, employees, and/or institutions. Recipients should exhibit an ongoing commitment towards advancing equity and social justice and taking an intersectional approach to bring typically underrepresented voices and identities to the forefront of higher education. Attempts will be made to recognize work being done across professional disciplines in equity and inclusion work.
Eligibility
Open to all professionals in the field of student affairs and/or academic affairs, including graduate students.