The USDLA Awards Committee is please to announce the five award categories for the 2023 USDLA annual awards. These award categories have been designed to provide an opportunity for a wide range of activities and individuals to participate in this years’ nominations. Each award category is listed below with a brief description of the award and a link to the criterion rubric.
The cost to submit a nomination will be $100.00 for USDLA members and $200.00 for non-members. The award submission fee for non-members includes a single USDLA membership for one year.
The USDLA 2023 Awards will be presented to the award winners at the 2023 National Conference at the Orlando Wyndham Resort the week of July 17-20, 2023.
USDLA award submissions are now open through January 31, 2023.
1 – USDLA Trendsetter in Distance Learning Award
Award Description: The Trendsetter in Distance Learning award is given to an agency, institution, company, project, individual or unique pedagogy that has shown innovation in the field of distance learning. The award recognizes pioneering initiatives in the field that have profoundly changed distance learning, existing practice, or developed new and effective solutions. Click for Award Criteria
2 – USDLA Rising Star Award
Award Description: The Rising Star Award is presented to an individual demonstrating exceptional promise in the field of distance education. The individual will have spent less than 5 years in the field of Distance Education. Click for Award Criteria
3 – USDLA Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching/Training Award
Award Description: The Excellence in Distance Learning Teaching/Training award is given to an outstanding individual or team of individuals whose teaching at a distance demonstrates extraordinary impact to student growth and engagement. The teaching or training must demonstrate effective learning facilitated through technology with measurable outcomes. Click for Award Criteria
4 – USDLA Outstanding Leadership Award
Award Description: This award is granted to an Individual leader demonstrating outstanding leadership in the field of Distance Education in their respective constituency (Pre-K-12; Higher Education; Government; Corporate; Health) through advocacy, professional affiliation, influence, and/or scholarship in the field of Distance Education. Click for Award Criteria
5 – USDLA Excellence in Distance Learning Research Award
Award Description: The Excellence in Distance Learning Research Award is given to a person(s) or organization(s) that currently conducts research in the field of distance education. This award recognizes high quality research that serves to advance the field of distance learning. Click for Award Criteria
Award Timeline:
- Award submissions are due Tuesday January 31st, 2023
- Winners will be notified the week of March 20th 2023
- Awards will be presented at the National Conference in Orlando, FL on Wednesday July 19th 2023
Award Questions
- Email Wendy Pate at wpate@usdla.org
USDLA Awards Committee:
- Ms. Wendy Pate, Awards Chairwoman, USDLA Board Member
- Ms. Janine Lim, USDLA Advisory Board
- Mr. Jeff Dungan, USDLA Advisory Board
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a space limitation for submissions in terms of number of pages or word count?
NO page limits…just make sure to hit/answer the criteria and provide evidence, etc.
Is there a specific format in which the nominator’s content should be arranged? For example, is it up to the submitter to organize the material in the best way that reflects the judging attributes?
Submit a nomination overview. Write a narrative that summarizes the project, program, person, etc. Include a paragraph for each rubric criteria explaining how this nomination meets that criteria and referencing each evidence document that supports the criteria.
You can upload unlimited evidence files. The file name for each evidence document should represent which criteria the evidence accompanies.
All files must be uploaded into the reviewer site. No website submissions are accepted.
Any evidence not already in an electronic format may be scanned and submitted as a PDF.
How secure will my material be?
All entries and related courses, material and content are kept confidential for judging purposes only.
Can I submit an award on behalf of my client?
Yes, you can submit a nomination on behalf of your client. Please note that for US government entries, you may have to consult your legal team regarding legal gift restrictions.
Is there a limit to the number of submissions an organization can submit?
NO
Can I load screen shots of my website, module?
Yes, you can load them in the award system as an example or insert them in your narrative to demonstrate or showcase certain features you want the judges to view.
Can I mail additional material or copies of my submission(s) to USDLA for consideration?
NO submission(s) will be accepted vi