Celebrating Excellence in Advising
Created in 2023, the Prize for Excellence in Faculty Advising recognizes the essential role that faculty advisors play in upholding Occidental's Mission to provide 鈥渁 gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality.鈥 This annual prize celebrates the work that faculty advisors do to advise, support, and mentor students throughout their academic journey.
In selecting a recipient for the prize, the selection committee considers the work that advisors do to:
- help students plan and pursue a program of study in light of their expressed interests;
- provide support for students encountering academic difficulties;
- encourage exploration of high-impact curricular and co-curricular opportunities, including undergraduate research, community-based learning, off-campus study, fellowships and awards, and internships.
Nominations are invited from faculty (including self-nominations), staff, and students. Nominations for the 2026 prize are due by February 28.
Timeline & Process
The timeline may vary slightly from year to year.
- February: A call for nominations is sent out to the campus community.
- Early March: All nominees are invited to fill out an online questionnaire about their advising practices.
- Late March: A group of finalists is identified by members of the Pedagogy & Advising Committee; statements of support are solicited from each finalist's current group of advisees.
- April: Members of the Pedagogy & Advising Committee review the materials for all of the finalists and select a recipient.
- May: The Dean of the College announces the recipient at the final Faculty Meeting of the academic year.