One primary mission of the WSU Advisor Training Academy is to provide recognition to members of the WSU advising and coaching community for their hard work, dedication, and impact on student success. The ATA Advising Awards were initiated to recognize exceptional performance and innovation in academic advising and success coaching at Wayne State University.

The following awards are conferred on an annual basis and recipients will be recognized at the annual Advisor Training Academy Recognition and Awards program.

Advising Spirit Award
Criteria: For the member of the WSU advising community who demonstrates outstanding advisor mentorship. For the purposes of this award, the mentoring does not need to be formal or part of an established program. Nominations should include letters of support from one (or more) mentees and should document how the mentoring relationship impacted the advisor(s) in their work with students as well as their professional and/or personal development and goals.

Outstanding Academic Advisor (primary role)
Criteria: For individuals whose primary role at WSU (at least 50% of their time) is the direct delivery of advising services to students and who have at least three years of advising experience at the University. 
This award seeks to recognize the individual who has shown exemplary service and impacted students through one or more of the following ways: dedication (engagement, style, or way of connecting), innovation (methods, tools, programming, resources), advising approach (methods of delivery, approach, inclusiveness, techniques).

Outstanding New Academic Advisor (primary role, 3 years or less advising)
Criteria: For individuals whose primary role at WSU (at least 50% of their time) is the direct delivery of advising services to students and who have been advising at WSU less than three years. 
This award seeks to recognize the new advisor who has shown exemplary service and impacted students through one or more of the following ways: dedication (engagement, style, or way of connecting), innovation (methods, tools, programming, resources), advising approach (methods of delivery, approach, inclusiveness, techniques).

Outstanding Academic Advising Team
Criteria: For advising teams (two or more) who are making an impact on students and the programs/degrees they support through their collective dedication, innovation, collaboration and approach. 

Transfer Advising Champion  
Co-sponsored by the WSU Transfer Student Success Center (TSSC)
Criteria: For advisors whose role at WSU includes the impactful delivery of advising and retention efforts to WSU transfer students through one or more of the following ways: dedication (engagement, style, or way of connecting), innovation (transfer pathways, methods, tools, programming, resources), advising approach (methods of delivery, approach, inclusiveness, techniques).

Outstanding Success Coach Award
Criteria: For the Success Coach with at least on year of experience at WSU and whose role is to support and advocate for a community of students academically, personally, and professionally. This award seeks to recognize the coach who has made an impact on the lives of their students through:
innovative techniques: delivery methods, tools, style, forms of connection
student advocacy: outreach, networking, collaborations
coaching program contributions: programming, resources, outreach interventions.

Nomination process

2024 Nominations for all awards will follow the following timeline and submission requirements:
Deadline to submit nominations May 3, 2024
Awardees notified late June 2024
Advisor Recognition and Awards program: (TBD)

To submit a nomination, complete the submission form below with all requested statements. Nominators will be asked to submit statements on how the individual/team meets the award criteria. Self-nominations are encouraged. Nominations should also include:

1. 2-3 additional statements (submitted individually or in one document) from other sources that document the award criteria. Suggested sources include:
   1. Supervisor or administrator
   2. Students
   3. Other team members, advisors, or student success collaborators (can be from other institutions or professional organizations)
2. Optional information:
   1. Nominee's professional record
   2. Nominee’s personal philosophy of advising.
   3. Documentation of outcomes, use of resources/technology, student communications, unique advising techniques, or methods of delivery

A selection committee, comprised of the following academic advisors and administrators, will review all submissions and announce winners:

Cheryl Kollin, Directory, University Advising Center
Kate Bernas, Advisor Training Academy
Heather Sandlin, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Solaf Shallal, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Casey Rue, College of Engineering 
Emily Reetz, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Helen Wilson, University Advising Center
Avanti Herczeg, College of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts
Ranae Hamama, TSSC - Transfer Advising Champion award selection

Questions related to the ATA Advising and Coaching awards can be sent to Kate Bernas (ab9599).

Submit a Nomination