CAREER INNOVATION AWARDS
Recognizing outstanding initiatives in college and university career services.
Check out the 2024 Award Winners!
OVERVIEW
WHAT WE LOOK FOR:
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Unique and impactful career development initiatives that are related to at least one of the following: scaling career development or employer relations, using career data effectively, embedding career development into the campus ecosystem, DEI in career services, faculty engagement in deploying career development, and/or brand/marketing success.
REQUIREMENTS
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Submissions must be from colleges and universities.
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The submitted program or initiative must have been implemented in at least an initial pilot phase to be able to show results. No concept-only submissions are accepted. Concepts are not innovations; they are ideas.
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In your description, be sure to clearly state: 1. the purpose, 2. how you implemented it, and 3. the results you achieved.
FAQ
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Does my innovation have to be something we recently launched? No. Well-baked innovations are quite welcome. Innovative does not equal recent, though it can.
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How many innovations will get awards? We are not sure. It depends on how many are innovative. More than 1, less than 6.
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Can 'using a new tech tool or product' be our innovation? No. Not unless you created the tech tool or product. If a tool or product is mentioned in your description, no problem, but it can't be the primary part of the innovation.
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Are we submitting on behalf of a person, office, or our institution? Institution, but you can list names and offices that contributed. And the submission does not have to be from a career office proper.
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Do we have to be a member of The Collective to win? Nope...uh, but why are you not a member?
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What do we win? Glory and stardom. Ok, but seriously, you will get recognition for sure...on the Collective website, in social media, and in our newsletter, plus a nice plaque for your office. Shout it from the rooftops - you deserve it. Oh yeah, we will also provide your campus with a $250 credit toward anything with The Collective.
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What if I won before? Can I win again? Yes! We invite previous winners to apply with new programs or initiatives.
PROCESS
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Read all application instructions.
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Submit by March 15, 2025.
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The Collective team will notify winners prior to the Annual Conference
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Winners will be publicly announced at The Collective 2025 Annual Conference in NOLA.
PAST Winners
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Belmont University, Nashville, TN
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California State University, Fullerton, CA
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Endicott College, Beverly, MA
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New York University, New York City, NY
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Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
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DePaul University, Chicago, IL
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Miami University, Oxford, OH
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Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
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University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT
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University of Nebraska, Business Career Center, Lincoln, NE
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University of Redlands, Redlands, CA