Faculty, staff invited to attend Steps to Leaps Summit, nominate outstanding individuals and programs for recognition

Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a Steps to Leaps Summit on from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 9 at Beck Agricultural Center.

Welcoming remarks, an awards presentation and student panel will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Featured speakers are Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Beth McCuskey, vice provost for student life; and Jenna Rickus, vice provost for teaching and learning. The student panel discussion will be followed by two breakout sessions, each featuring three presentations that will share resources and research related to the Steps to Leaps pillars. More summit information including a full schedule of events is online. 

Individuals interested in attending can register through March 2. Attendees will receive lunch.

In advance of the summit, the Steps to Leaps steering committee is also seeking nominations for the following awards:

• Steps to Leaps in Research Award – Given to a researcher or team whose published work exemplifies efforts to expand the understanding of one or more of the Steps to Leaps pillars.
• Steps to Leaps Student of the Year Award – Bestowed to a student who has shown a passion for growth within the Steps to Leaps pillar areas and/or contributions toward the education of peers within the Steps to Leaps pillar areas.
• Award for Academic Integration of Steps to Leaps – Recognizes an educator who has woven Steps to Leaps into their pedagogy.
• Steps to Leaps in Student Support Award – Given to an individual or unit that consistently leveraged the language of Steps to Leaps in the conversations and communication with students.

Information about the awards and how to submit a nomination is available. Nominations are due by Feb. 15. Honorees will be recognized during the Steps to Leaps Summit and will receive a $500 award.

Steps to Leaps is a collaborative effort to foster lifelong habits and promote a growth mindset in the areas of well-being, leadership and professional development, impact, network building and grit. Steps to Leaps offers goal setting, action planning, worksheets, short motivational videos and more for self-assessment or facilitator-led assessments to help students celebrate their strengths while learning paths to improvements. Steps to Leaps was created by students for students under the auspices of the Office of the Provost and is aligned with long-term university goals under the Provost Road Map for Transformative Undergraduate Education.