Faculty & Staff Awards

Grand View University recognizes many faculty for their excellent work in academia.

Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award (EIT Award)

The EIT Award recognizes an outstanding faculty member at Grand View University who demonstrates a commitment to enhancing student learning through innovation and creative teaching.

Specifically, the award seeks to honor a faculty member who demonstrates excellence in these important areas:

  • utilizes innovative or creative pedagogies that encourages deep student learning,
  • shows a sustained commitment to self-reflection and continuous improvement as a teacher,
  • promotes student engagement in and outside the classroom,
  • demonstrates a significant and sustained commitment to enhancing student learning through application and interdisciplinary connections, and
  • work productively and collegially with the Grand View community.

Eligibility
All full- or part-time Grand View University faculty members are eligible to be nominated.

Nomination Process
Any member(s) of the Grand View community may nominate a faculty member for this award. To nominate a faculty member, please prepare a brief narrative that clearly describes, with examples, how the nominee demonstrates excellence in any number of the five areas outlined above. Nominators are welcome to solicit letters from others who have knowledge of specific criteria or examples.

Nominations shall be forwarded to the Provost by the designated date. Selection of the award recipient will be made by the President and Provost.

Award
The EIT Award is presented at Honor's Convocation and includes a $1,500 one-time honorarium.

Past Recipients

Outstanding Academic Advising Award

The Grand View University Outstanding Academic Advising Award is presented to a staff or faculty member who exhibits, through academic advising, a strong commitment to student success.

Eligibility
Any staff or faculty member who currently advises students at Grand View University. An individual may earn this award more than one time.

Process
Candidates for the award will be determined through peer and/or student nomination process. The President and the Provost will review nominations and make final decisions regarding award designees. An award will be granted only if an outstanding nominee is identified.

Criteria
The criteria for the award are as follows and nomination letters should address as many criteria as possible:

  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Availability to advisees in a variety of settings
  • Frequent contact with advisees
  • Appropriate referral activity
  • Use and dissemination of appropriate information sources
  • Evidence of advisee success
  • Caring, helpful attitude toward advisees
  • Participation in and support of proactive advising to build strong relationships with advisees
  • Monitoring of advisee progress toward academic and career goals
  • Mastery of institutional regulations, policies, and procedures
  • Ability to engage in, promote, and support developmental advising by guiding advisees’ discernment of life purpose
  • Participation in and support of advisor development programs

Awardees are not required to satisfy all of the criteria identified above. Additional supporting documentation regarding the nominee could include: advising load, advising evaluations, advisee letters of support, and/or other information provided by colleagues working closely with the nominee and/or the Director of Academic Advising.

Recognition
The Outstanding Academic Advising Award is presented at the annual Honor’s Convocation and includes for faculty a $2,333 monetary award plus $1,000 in faculty development funds. Staff will have the option to take the full monetary award of $3,333 or $2,333 and $1,000 in staff development funds.

Past Recipients

Excellence in Scholarship Award

The Grand View University Excellence in Scholarship Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated significant achievement in the area of scholarship.

Eligibility
Any full-time faculty member at Grand View University is eligible. An individual may earn this award more than one time.

Process
Candidates for the award will be determined through a peer nomination process. The President and the Provost will review all nominations and make final decisions regarding award designees. An award will be granted only if an outstanding nominee is identified.

Criteria
Criteria for the award are as follows:

The criteria for the award are as follows and nomination letters should address as many criteria as possible:

  • Demonstrates an active and sustained commitment to scholarly work
  • Has made notable scholarly contributions in his/her academic discipline
  • Uses scholarship to enhance his/her teaching,  encourage deeper student learning and promote student engagement inside and outside the classroom

Awardees are not required to satisfy all of the criteria identified above.

Recognition
The Excellence in Scholarship Award is presented at the annual Honor’s Convocation and includes a $2,333 monetary award plus $1,000 in faculty development funds.  

Past Recipients

Distinguished Faculty Service Award

The Grand View University Distinguished Faculty Service Award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary service to the University.

Eligibility
Any full time faculty member at Grand View University. An individual may earn this award more than one time.

Process
Candidates for the award will be determined through a peer nomination process. The President and the Provost will review nominations and make final decisions regarding award designees. Awards will be granted only if an outstanding nominee is identified.

Criteria
The criteria for the award are as follows:

  • Has a strong, sustained record of accomplishment in activities undertaken in service to, and as a representative of the University
  • Has made meaningful contributions and has positively impacted the work of a variety of service activities
  • Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to serve students, staff, faculty, and the mission of Grand View

Nomination letters should address all three criteria.

Recognition
The Distinguished Faculty Service Award is presented at the annual Honor’s Convocation and includes a $2,333 monetary award plus $1,000 in faculty development funds.

Past recipients

Excellence in Service Award

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes an outstanding staff member at Grand View University. 

Criteria
The award seeks to honor a staff member who:

  • Goes above and beyond their regular duties to positively impact all members of the Grand View community. 
  • Performs in his/her position at an exemplary level. 
  • Shows passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for Grand View’s mission to engage, equip, and empower students. Ways to do this include participating in events such as the Summer Institute and Conversations on the EDGE, volunteering for ad-hoc committees, and participating in other events that contribute to the vitality of Grand View such as homecoming, athletic events, and cultural events. 

Past recipients

  • 2021: Erica Kluver, Human Resources Manager
  • 2020: Britt Einerson, Assistant to the Athletic Director
  • 2019: Phillip Weber, Painter
  • 2018: Russell Lackey, Senior Campus Pastor
  • 2017: Kelly Daniel, Graphic Designer
  • 2016: Deborah Gannon, Registrar
  • 2015: Tim Reger, Campus Services Assistant Manager
  • 2014: Kent Schornack, Director of Leadership and Counseling
  • 2013: Michelle Prange, Athletic Success Coordinator
  • 2012: Luanne Knudsen, Assistant Director of Transfer Admissions
  • 2011: Ellen Strachota, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
  • 2010: Julie Bantz, Controller
  • 2009: Tim Wheeldon, Director of Information Technology
  • 2008: Jean Steenhoek, Administrative Assistant for Nursing
  • 2007: Kim Butler, Director of Buildings and Grounds
Excellence in Service to Students Award 
2022: Laurie Butz, Completion Coach
Excellence in Service to the Faculty and Staff Award
2022: Linda Mac Kinnon, Administrative Assistant

Excellence in Service to the University Award

2022: Corinna King, Executive Assistant to President & Provost