Programs
Educational:
- How did the program educate students?
- How were the educational needs of the community addressed?
- What were the goals of the program and how were they accomplished?
- What makes the program unique?
Social:
- What was the purpose of the program?
- How did it encourage residents to interact with one another?
- What makes the program unique?
- How can the program be adapted to other campuses?
Community Service:
- What was the service project?
- Who did it benefit?
- How did the progect impact the residential community?
- What makes this program unique?
- How did students take an active part in the program?
Diversity:
- What was the diversity issue addressed?
- How was it addressed to help residents learn about it?
- What was unique about this program that helped to bring across the purpose?
- What kind of impact has the program had on the community to which it was presented?
Creativity originality, financial feasibility, attendance, and adaptability to other campuses are important characteristic for a program OTM. If the nomination is in conjunction what a nationally recognized week or holiday, the nomination needs to display how your campus has approached the program in a new or different way. Show relevance or reason the issue being programmed is needed on your campus. These nominations are not only giving recognition to a group of leaders who have done a high quality program, but they may become a resource and a guide for leaders on other campuses
General Categories
Advisors:
- How did the individual recognize the students s/he advises in the month of nomination?
- How did the individual impact students s/he advises during the month of nomination?
- Through the course of his/her work, in what ways is this person contributing to the
- student affairs profession?
- What outstanding accomplishments merit recognition of the individual this month?
Advisors need to create a supportive environment for the student leaders they advise. The focus of the Advisor OTM should be based on the impact s/he makes in the lives of students. Personal examples are often the best way to express the intangible contributions of an advisor. The nomination should display how the advisor was instrumental in helping the leaders they work with grow, learn, and develop. the nominee must advise LIT, NRHH, RHA, or other residence life organizations. Complex Directors are only eligible for this category if they also advise an organization (if not, nominate them in the spotlight category.)
Community:
- What brings the group of people together?
- What specific positive contributions did this community make this month to enhance
- the lives of the group members or those around it?
- How does the community interact with other communities?
- What makes this community different from others? (Participation, Enthusiasm as a group)
This award is designed to recognize the contributions of residential communities and the impact they have on students and the rest of campus. The mission of residence halls is to provide a home away from home for students. The community OTM is designed to reward communities to show that their efforts and dedication has not gone unnoticed. It will also help promote pride and unity with on-campus communities. Since the community is difficult to define, any residential life unit is eligible for this award, such as wings, halls, floors, complexes, etc.
Executive Board Members (NRHH/RHA/LIT):
- Has the nominee used the services and resources of NACURH as well as other campus
- resources?
- What outstanding accomplishments merit recognition of this individual this month?
- How did the Exec Board Member exceed the responsibilities of his/her position during the
- month of the nomination?
- How has the individual grown as a result of the challenges s/he has faced?
Bring out the nominee’s special efforts, not just fulfilling the job requirements of the position. Be sure the person you ar nominating for this award is eligible to receive it. the nominee needs to be an executive from the residence hall governing body: NRHH, RHA, LIT. NRHH and RHA executives will be judged in one category and LIT executives separately for the purpose of Whitewater OTMs.
Organization/LIT:
- What is the focus of the organization? (i.e. programming, advocacy, recognition, etc.)
- How did the organization contribute to the residential community and the general
- community of the institution?
- How did the organization interact with the region and with NACURH?
- What set this month apart from other months?
This category is to recognize an outstanding residence life organization (such as an RHA, NRHH chapter, or ARA,) not an outstanding member. Nominations should be organization specific and not concentrate on the efforts of a few individuals. Review the purposes and goals of the organization before writing the nomination. Note: LITs are judged separately from other organizations for the LIT of the month honor, but the criteria are like those above.
Residential Assistants:
- How well does the nominee work with residents and what impact has s/he had during
- the month of nomination?
- How has the nominee fulfilled and gone above his/her job responsibility during the
- month of nomination?
- Are there any specific projects in support of hall government or committees in which
- s/he participates?
- What outstanding contributions has the individual made for the hall s/he works in during
- the month of nomination?
A Residential Assistant should be a student who lives residents in order to build and facilitate community. Mention the job requirements and show how the nominee has gone above and beyond those requirements.
Spotlight:
- What outstanding contributions did the individual/group make to those living in the
- residence halls during the month?
- How has the person/group exceeded what would normally be expected of them in their
- position?
This category is to recognize the efforts of people who do not fall into any other categories; therefore, the nominee cannot be an Advisor, Exec Board Member, Residential Assistant, or student. Possible nominees could be a Complex Director, Food Service Personnel, Night Security Staff, or Janitorial Staff. Please include how this person/group has helped an individual or contributed to the well being of the community. Please nominate LITs, Halls, Executive Boards, etc. in the community category.
Student and First Year Student:
- What outstanding contributions did the individual make during the month of nomination?
- How has this person impacted the residence halls and campus?
- What interaction did the nominee have with his/her residence hall government or individual
- hall during the month of nomination?
- What organizations and activities was the individual involved in?
- How does the student recognize and motivate others?
This category is intended for a student leader who puts for special effort during the month of nomination. Possible things to include in the nomination could be leadership development, contributions to the people in his/her community, and his/her activities. Please note that campus-wide Executive Board Members, Advisors, and Residential Assistants are not eligible for this award. First year student nominees must be freshman (not transfer students.)
Whitewater Level
The following categories are only judged on the Whitewater level, increasing recognition on our campus:
Desk Attendant:
- How does the desk attendant provide customer service to residents?
- How does the person improve the community of the residence hall/complex through
- his/her work?
- What instances in the current month has s/he been especially helpful?
This category is only for one’s work as a desk attendant; only residence hall desk attendants are considered for this award. Specific example of great customer service & helpfulness should be included to show what makes the individual stand out.
Bulletin Board:
- Describe the theme of the bulletin board and its purpose
- Describe the board so that one can develop a picture in one’s mind about it.
- Indicate how originality, creativity, and usefulness are demonstrated by the board.
- Mention any major impact that the board has had on the win/floor/hall community.
- Indicate the board creator’s name (if known) and the location of the board in your
- nomination.
This category is for residence hall bulletin boards that provide something extra to the residents and stand out from a typical bulletin board. Bulletin boards that have had a lot of effort put in them are great nominees for this category.
Roommate:
- How has s/he gone above and beyond what you expect of a roommate?
- Provide examples of why s/he is deserving.
- Mention any impact s/he has had upon your hall.
- Have fun and describe why this roommate is special and deserving of recognition.
- Interactions you have, fun, or whatever else you would like to mention is welcome.
Neighbor:
- How has s/he interacted with you and others neighboring him/her positively?
- Mention any impact s/he has had on the floor/wing community and hall community.
- Provide examples of how the neighbor has been helpful to you and other reasons
- s/he is deserving for the month of the nomination.
Neighbors in a residence hall can help to make one’s experience there better. Make sure you indicate to some degree how this is true. Neighbors can be in rooms directly to the left and right, across the hall directly, and the rooms across the hall directly to the left and right of the room directly across the hall. Interactions, fun, or other experiences you share with the neighbor that you would like to share is welcome.
Faculty/Staff:
- What interactions has the individual had with the residence halls and its students?
- How has the individual promoted or worked with academics in the residence hall setting.
This award is intended to reward professors and related faculty/staff members who have had an impact on the residence halls. Please provide examples of how this individual has done so.