Application:

Click here for:
Online Bellwether Finalist Application
or
Downloading the application and following the enclosed instructions to apply by email

Finalists will be competitively selected based upon how well the program addresses:

1. the conference theme
2. an identified critical issue 
3. the published criteria

Please read the information below and the Bellwether Awards F.A.Q. before applying.

See the F.A.Q.s

Purpose of Awards:

The Bellwether Awards annually recognize outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future.

Categories of the Award:

• Instructional Programs & Services: Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to foster or support teaching and learning in the community college.

• Planning, Governance & Finance: Programs or activities that have been designed and successfully implemented to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the community college.

• Workforce Development: Public and/or private strategic alliances and partnerships that promote community and economic development.

Bellwether Finalist Selection:

Bellwether Finalists will be selected based upon how well the application addressed the following (selection weights are shown in parentheses).

• The application criteria listed below (75%)
• The conference theme: Leading Through Innovation (10%)
• An identified critical issue (15%)

Award Selection Process: Proposals for the Bellwether Awards will be competitively reviewed and ten finalists will be selected in each category. Finalists will be required to present at the Futures Assembly and will be encouraged to provide evidence of program results. These results and the presentation will be used in selecting the final award recipients. Notification of finalists is planned for late November.

Application Criteria:

1. Identify the issue or challenge that this cutting-edge program or activity was designed to address.
2. Describe the process, timeline, participants, and resources required to implement the program or activity.
3. Specify the results and/or impact.
4. Elaborate on lessons learned for colleges considering a replication of this initiative

   For further information/exploration:
   "Another View" by Dale F. Campbell

Critical Issues:

The 2012 Community College Futures Assembly seeks nominations/applications for leading edge trend-setting Bellwether Programs that address one or more of the following critical issues:

• Current Institutional Gaps
  1. Faculty-Admin. Comm.
  2. Prof. Development
  3. New Vision of Education in USA
  4. Int./Ext. Partnerships
  5. Global Partnerships
• Projected Institutional Gaps
  1. Employee selection
  2. Connections with WFD/Industry
  3. Leadership/HR
  4. Teaching to fit the need
  5. Technology
• Actions on Behalf of the Students
  1. E-learning infrastructures
  2. Multicultural
  3. Stronger community relations
  4. Break “Silos”
  5. Employability skills
  6. Critical Thinking skills
• Actions on Behalf of the Community
  1. Continuous dialog
  2. Regional partnerships
  3. Telling CC/Econ. Develop. Story
  4. Globalization
  5. Understanding role on Econ. Develop.
  6. Collaboration with business partners

If you have an outstanding program that is not directly related to the bullet points from the listed above, please identify the critical issue that you program addresses.

Recognition:

At the awards luncheon, three winners will be presented the exclusive Bellwether Award. 

In recognition of their achievement, photographs and press releases will be provided to the Bellwether finalists for publication within their local community.