NISOD is “a membership organization committed to promoting and celebrating excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership at community and technical colleges.” As a member of NISOD, we have the opportunity each year to nominate and send up to five qualified faculty or staff members (full-time or part-time) to the NISOD Annual Conference, which this year will be on on May 25-28, 2024, in Austin, Texas. 

A call for nominations goes out in September each year. Nominations may be submitted by faculty, administrators, support staff members, or students. Each person may submit only one nomination. 

Nominations for the 2024 award are due by 5pm on Friday, September 22, 2023. 

*Note:  To receive the award, nominees must have been an employee of ECC for at least three years prior to the time of nomination. Nominees are only eligible to win the NISOD Award once every five years.

Nominating Criteria:

The nominee should demonstrate excellence in the following areas:  

• Promotes and fosters a learner-centered environment

• Collaborates and develops partnerships across ECC and/or the greater community 

• Engages in innovative initiatives across campus

• Demonstrates positive and effective assistance to diverse learners in reaching their academic goals

• Provides exceptional services to students

• Provides leadership on campus and in the community

• Demonstrates commitment to continuous learning and professional development of colleagues and one’s self

• Embodies ECC’s shared values:  Excellence; Freedom of Inquiry; Equity; Diversity; Ethical Practice; Accountability; Collaboration

The Orrin G. Thompson Teaching Excellence Award honors faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the learning environment of the college and who are dedicated to student successes. Recipients are also nominated for the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) Outstanding Faculty Member Award. Specific criteria for this award include the nominee’s demonstrated excellence in teaching, initiative on innovative programs, service on technical or special committees, leadership in helping solve challenges and participation in state and/or national education associations. One full-time and one part-time faculty member receive the award each year. 

*Note:  To receive the award, nominees must have been an employee of ECC for at least three years prior to the time of nomination. Nominees are only eligible to win the Orrin G. Thompson Award once every five years.

Nomination Process:  

Once the call for nominations goes out early in the spring semester, students, faculty, and staff are invited to submit nominations by answering the question on the Electronic Nomination Form.  Additional information, used for choosing a winner and also for submitting nominees for the ICCTA awards, is then solicited from nominees. This information includes initiative on innovative programs, service on technical or special committees, leadership in helping solve challenges, participation in state and/or national education associations, awards and recognition, and ongoing professional development. 

Please direct any question to Tyler Roeger, Associate Dean of CETAL, at troeger@elgin.edu.

Nominating Criteria:

Nominees should exemplify and, thereby strengthen the shared values of the college community which are: Excellence, Freedom of Inquiry, Equity, Ethical Practices, Accountability, Respect for Diversity & Community Engagement  

Full and part-time faculty in good standing with the college may be nominated.