[Src_execcmte] [Fwd: Award Program Review]

[Lindsey Morse]

fyi, I sent this with an attachment but got a bounce-back waiting for
moderator approval, so here's my email at least (my revisions to the
document were fairly minimal and mainly captured below).

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Award Program Review
From:    "Lindsey Morse" <lmorse at gsd.harvard.edu>
Date:    Wed, August 8, 2007 11:26 pm
To:      src_execcmte at list.planning.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone -

The Award Program draft looks great.  I'm very willing to work more on the
actual text (attached are some revisions), but below are my main
comments/suggestions.  Sorry to be a little long-winded, but hope these
are helpful/interesting.  My biggest 2 points are: 1) I definitely think
we should and need to confirm the award categories, come up with a
deadline and initial guidelines, and get the info out! if this means
starting off with just 3 awards and expanding in future years, I think
it's worth it and 2) I would like to recommend that the 2008 winners
provide jury reps (and thus are ineligible) for the 2009 awards.

Best. - Lindsey


- What do we need to do to get the announcement/categories at least done
for the special Student Interact?

- Award Ceremony: What happens if the PSO(s) to be recognized are not
present at the National Conference?  I just want to make sure that
attendance at the Conference is not mandatory to receive the award.

- I think these awards could serve another purpose beyond recognizing and
supporting PSOs: helping prospective students become aware of the APA
activity at potential schools (and thus encouraging schools/programs to
support their PSOs because it's part of what can attract students).  This
can be advanced in part by having PAB put some type of recognition by each
school listed (unless it is against their policy to do so).

- Ideas for award category(s).  Related to the point above, about
prospective students, it would be really helpful, I think, for prospective
students to get a sense of which schools excel in which areas.  This might
be too work-intensive and too controversial (as it would border on
ranking).  But each division involved could present a short list of PSOs
that are best taking action on that division's focus and/or which PSOs
have the most student members of each division.  This could be a
non-monetary, recognition-only component of this program that would help
divisions buy in.

- The Jury (Committee): did the committee get appointed this spring? I'm
confused how we will know who is not eligible (i.e. reps from schools who
are submitting an entry) before we receive the submittals or at least
until we get the categories and criteria out there.  Also, I'm not sure
the best people to judge are reps from PSOs that wouldn't receive awards .
. . (see below for a suggestion - that winners from one year become part
of the jury (and thus ineligible) for the next year)

- Multiple-year eligibility: are we going to put any limits on the same
PSOs winning year after year?  It could make sense that all the PSOs that
win become members of the judging committee for the next year (and thus
ineligible to apply).  This is good because these are the PSOs that would
have the highest standards and though it does limit that PSO's
opportunities, it does so only every other year.

- When do we need to outreach to the divisions to confirm/establish
sponsorships?

- Other possibilities for awards: free division membership for officers,
for all students, for x number of students

- Membership.  I'm confused about how this works.  What do I need to do to
make sure once my free student membership is up, I stay a member?  Will I
get an email asking me to continue my membership?

- Award categories.  I think we need more specific examples.  Also, I
think we need to set up additional criteria or some type of guidance for
each award for what we are looking for (this could be for internal jury
use only).  Number AND variety of events held?  Attendance?  Number of
students involved and/or intensity of student involvement? (All the
students are involved somewhat, a few students are involved intensely,
etc.)

- What will the verification process be (if there will be any) for
evaluating the entries?  I.e., calling PSO's academic department, state's
Chapter President, etc.


-- 
Lindsey Morse
MUP '08
lmorse at gsd.harvard.edu
617-680-2827





-- 
Lindsey Morse
MUP '08
lmorse at gsd.harvard.edu
617-680-2827