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The League for Innovation in the Community College and the Maricopa Community Colleges have a rich history of supporting and promoting innovation. Each year, Maricopa and the League co-sponsor the Innovation of the Year Award Program to recognize an individual or a team of employees who have designed and implemented a significant innovation that has had a positive impact on the education of students. Each college, skill center, and the District Office selects one innovation as their respective Innovation of the Year award winner. These innovations then compete for the district-wide award, the Dr. Paul M. Pair Innovation of the Year Award. This award is named in memory and in honor of Dr. Paul M. Pair, long-time member and former president of the Maricopa Colleges Foundation Board. The award includes $2,000 to be used to further the winning innovation.
For the 2004-2005 Innovation of the Year Awards program, the MCLI is coordinating the Dr. Paul M. Pair Innovation of the Year Award selection process. The innovation team receiving this award will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at Rio Salado College's Conference Center.
Celebrating Innovation at Maricopa
Last year, GateWay Community College was the recipient of the Dr. Paul M. Pair Innovation of the Year Award for its innovation, Student Financial Assistance - Providing 24/7 Access. GateWay strategically implemented electronic products to streamline processes with regards to financial aid. Students now have 24-hour access, seven days a week, to conduct business. These enhancements assisted over 2,500 students in receiving financial aid in an efficient manner and increased digital inclusiveness.
Each individual college, skill center, and the District Office also selected an Innovation of the Year Award winner. The winning innovations were as follows:
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- My Eport: Electronic Portfolio System
- Cross College Innovation
- Strategic Planning Support Team (SPST)
- District Office - MATEC
- Work-Ready Electronics
- Estrella Mountain Community College
- Hybrid Learning Program
- Glendale Community College
- Recruitment Reception for GCC's Academy for Lifelong Learning
- Maricopa Skill Center
- Introduction to Culinary Arts Program
- Mesa Community College
- The Center for Global Tolerance and Engagement
- Paradise Valley Community College
- SUCCEED/ACE Program: Students Using Community College to Expand Educational Dreams
- Phoenix College
- Phoenix College Alumni - ACE (Achieving a College Education)
- Rio Salado College
- The Electronic Student File and Retention System
- Scottsdale Community College
- Orientation Programs for Online Students and Online Faculty
- South Mountain Community College
- Bilingual Nursing Fellowship Program
Award Criteria
The criteria for the 2004-2005 Innovation Awards include eight categories that have been linked to Maricopa values, as outlined by the Governing Board. An innovation should meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Quality
- It is evident that the innovation increases "quality" in the course, program, office or institution. Value Education.
- Efficiency
- There is evidence that the innovation contributes to a more efficient way of doing things. Value Responsibility.
- Effectiveness
- There is evidence that the innovation adds a value to the institution while at the same time containing or reducing costs. Value Responsibility.
- Replication
- The innovation selected can be replicated in other institutions with a minimum of difficulty. Value Excellence.
- Creativity
- The innovation should be as original as possible or the adaptation should be creative. Value Excellence.
- Timeliness
- The innovation should not be more than five years old in the institution, but it must have been around long enough to be tested so that it meets most of the criteria. Value Excellence.
- Learning
- What steps or processes were used to share your innovation to benefit students throughout MCCD? Value Students.
- Collaboration
- How does the innovation integrate collaboration, teamwork and cooperation to ensure continuous process improvement efforts on behalf of students throughout MCCD. Value Excellence.
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