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SPSSI Two-Year College Teaching & Mentoring Excellence Award

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) is pleased to announce a new award recognizing the contributions of faculty at two-year institutions in furthering SPSSI’s mission to advance the understanding of social issues.  Community and junior college faculty have unique opportunities to reach pre-professional students for whom an associate’s degree or a certificate program may be their terminal educational goal. In particular, community and junior college faculty reach a number of professions, including police, fire, nursing, hospitality, as well as various other trade professions.  Members of the surrounding communities often enroll in continuing education and workforce training at two-year institutions. Two-year faculty are uniquely positioned to advance SPSSI’s goals through work at their institutions.

SPSSI aims to recognize the ways in which faculty at two-year colleges incorporate social issues research into their work, both in and out of the classroom.  This award recognizes teaching and/or initiatives at the two-year college level that share applied, social issues research with students and/or surrounding community.

Eligibility:

Nominees should be two-year college faculty members who have significantly incorporated psychological or allied social science research on social issues in one of the following ways:

  1. integrated research on social issues into a course or program at a two-year institution
  2. developed an initiative or educational program that applies research on social issues to the training or education of two-year college students
  3. presented workshops or training highlighting social issues research to two-year college students and/or the surrounding community

Nominations/Applications: 

The materials should include the following:

  1. Nominee’s statement (2-3 pages) describing how the applicant has incorporated applied social issues research in one of the three options listed above.   Please be specific about the research area and its impact on students, other faculty, the broader institution, and/or community.
  2. One (1) letter of support from a student and one (1) letter of support from a faculty colleague or administrator familiar with the course or program you describe in your letter and how your contribution enhances the learning of social issues.
  3. Any additional supporting documentation, such as program evaluations (3 pages maximum)

Self-nominations are encouraged. The deadline to apply is November 15th, annually.

Recipients receive $1000, one year of membership, and a plaque and will be recognized in the Teaching and Mentoring column in the SPSSI Forward newsletter and other outlets. Honorable Mention awardees will receive one year of free SPSSI membership. Please note that applications may be reconsidered by the committee in the review process for two award cycles following submission.  Recipients of the award might be invited to present during a SPSSI conference session sponsored by the Teaching and Mentoring Committee.

HOW TO APPLY

APPLY ONLINE NOW!  Online submissions are the preferred method.  Please limit the number and size of files uploaded when applying online. 

For general inquiries, please send an email to the SPSSI office.

View previous SPSSI Two-Year College Teaching and Mentoring Excellence Award Winners here.