1. Introduction

The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding Community Engagement aim to recognise the outstanding contributions of individual staff or teams of staff to the University’s community engagement objectives and to community life.

2. Purpose

These awards recognise staff members (or teams of staff members) who have made an outstanding contribution as a member of the University of Tasmania to community life and so have contributed to the achievement of the strategic objectives laid down in Open to Talent and related documents.

Community engagement may involve a wide range of activities and types of expertise, and may link the University to a diversity of community sectors and partners. Without attempting to provide an exhaustive list, University community engagement may include the following:

Service to the community, including pro bono professional work, unpaid consultancies, leadership roles on community, government and institutional boards and committees, community activism and volunteer work related to the University’s core academic mission that, due to the person’s affiliation with the University, serves to enhance the reputation of the University in the wider community.

Partnerships with the community, such as planning and engagement in joint University-community events and activities, which build strong links and successful collaborations that create value for all partners.

Other service to the community including media contributions, public events, tribunals, charity work and professional development activity that draws on the professional role and expertise of the nominee and enhances the reputation of the University in the general community.

Although the consideration of nominations will focus primarily on activities undertaken over the previous three years, the Selection Committee may take into account longer-term contributions, in order to reflect the ongoing nature of many community engagement projects.

3. Eligibility

These awards are open to any academic or professional staff member (or team of staff members) of the University of Tasmania. Nominated teams may include University voluntary position holders.

Individuals or teams receiving a Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Community Engagement are ineligible to be nominated again for a period of two years.

VICE-CHANCELLOR’S AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 2017GUIDELINES

Previous recipients may re-enter after this period if they can clearly demonstrate further initiatives achieved since the earlier award and the project outcomes are clearly measurable.

It is expected that a nominee’s community engagement activities will be over and above their job role. However, nominees who are employed by the University in community engagement focused positions may be nominated for these awards; such nominees will be required to reach a higher level of community of engagement than those not employed in such roles.

4. Nomination Process

The Academic Division will issue a call for nominations annually. Any University staff member may make a nomination. Self-nomination is not allowed. Nominations should be submitted using the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Outstanding

Community Engagement Nomination Form and contain evidence, as specified below, in support of the nomination.

Nominations must be lodged in PDF format, by the due date to the Office of the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Community, Partnerships & Regional Development, by email to Karen.Edwards@utas.edu.au.

5. Nomination Documentation

A completed nomination form must be attached to the front of each nomination. The application should clearly state the level, tenure and fraction of employment of the nominee(s). New nominations of previous winners should include a statement outlining how the activities identified in the current nomination make a new and significant contribution.

In addition, the following material must be provided.

Section D: A 200-word summary description of the community engagement activity or activities of the nominee or nominees and of the outcomes achieved.

Section E: A description of the community engagement activity or activities of the nominee(s), with statements that clearly identify the contribution of the nominee(s) (as compared with any non-nominee or external partners involved in the activity), the achievements and the outcomes, and the likely impact, durability and/or sustainability of those outcomes. This section must be no longer than two A4 pages in length in 11 pt font size. This section may be prepared by either the nominator or a nominee.

Section F: A statement of support from the nominator providing the following information: The extent to which the contribution is beyond the nominee’s normal position role at the

University The extent to which the contribution draws on and is related to the nominee’s role at the

University The extent to which the contribution enhances the reputation of the University The extent to which the nominee has played a leadership role in the engagement activity The outcomes and impact of the engagement activity and the benefit to the community.

This section must be no longer than two A4 pages in length in 11 pt font size. This section must be prepared by the nominator.

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Section G: Nominations must include brief statements of support (i.e. preferably from community members or organisations), such as letters, testimonials, and emails. Media clippings can also be provided (hyperlinks to media articles are preferred). This is limited to a maximum of 10 pages.

Nominators are reminded that a clear description of the impact and scope of the engagement with the community will be to the nominee’s advantage. Nominations must be evidence-based and require careful documentation and external support.

6. Selection Process

A Selection Committee will consider the nominations and make recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor in relation to the granting of an award(s).

The Committee comprises of:

the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Community, Partnerships & Regional Development (Chair); one Dean, nominated by the Deans; two staff, nominated by Academic Senate; and one community member of University Council, nominated by University Council.

7. The Award

The award will consist of a $5,000 grant and a certificate (for an individual award) or a $10,000 grant and a certificate (for a team award). It is intended that only one award will be given across the two categories (individual or team). However, if the Committee feel two nominees are both worthy of the Award, the money will be divided equally between the two, with a maximum of $10,000 to be split between the recipients.

Award monies are to be spent in line with the University’s financial guidelines and would generally be used to support the award winner’s University role, community engagement activity or professional development.

Award monies must be fully expended within two years of the award being conferred (i.e. by 31 December 2019). The Finance Hubs will work with the award recipient(s) to arrange a budget schedule.

8. Notification of Outcome

The successful nominee(s) will be advised in writing as soon as possible following the Vice-Chancellor’s final decision. The awards will be presented at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony.

9. Further Information

For further information please contact Karen Edwards on phone 03 6226 2251 or Karen.Edwards@utas.edu.au.

10. Previous winners

A listing of the previous award winners can be accessed via the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Community, Partnerships and Regional Development Awards webpage.

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