Innovation of the Year Program

Excellence in Innovation

The Maricopa Innovation of the Year Awards Program 2008 is an opportunity for all employees to showcase their creative Excellence in Innovation. The Innovation of the Year Award is designed to recognize employees and acknowledge these ideas that inspire innovation in education.

We hope that all Maricopa Community Colleges employees take time to reflect on their projects/achievements of the past year and consider sharing them in the annual Innovation of the Year Awards Program.

Please take a few moments to review the information below, which outlines the eligibility requirements, submission procedures, and award criteria. Please check with your site’s Innovation Liaison regarding internal due dates.

The Maricopa Community Colleges and the League for Innovation in the Community College co-sponsor the 2007–2008 Innovation of the Year Awards 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. One innovation is selected from each college, and the District Office. A district-wide innovation is then selected to receive the Dr. Paul M. Pair Innovation of the Year Award, which includes $2,000 to be used to further the winning innovation. All innovations will be celebrated at the Innovation of the Year Awards Program on Friday, March 28, 2008, 1:00-2:30 PM at Student Union Building ABC, South Mountain Community College.

Eligibility

Employees and employee teams are eligible for nomination by an employee or by self-nomination. Teams may include non-Maricopa individuals.

Cross-college collaboration nominations are accepted. However, the nomination must be submitted by one agreed upon college/location.

Nominations that were submitted in the past and still meet the criteria may be resubmitted for consideration.

Criteria

For the 2007-2008 Innovation Awards, the criteria have been linked to a Maricopa Value. 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
Cost 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
The results of the innovation have been shared with others for the benefit of students throughout Maricopa. Value Education
Collaboration
The innovation successfully demonstrates collaboration, teamwork, and cooperation to ensure continuous process improvement efforts on behalf of students throughout Maricopa. Value Excellence

2007-2008 Innovation of the Year Program

Excellence in Innovation

Eligibility

Criteria