Award Application Guidelines

The Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award provides national recognition for faculty and staff non-practitioners¹ who have made significant contributions to international education, either through innovative practices (Track I) or life-long impact (Track II). 

Typically, the CII has presented one award each year, rotating between the two tracks. However, since no Malone Award was presented in 2020, the Executive Committee of the CII will present two awards for 2021 to individuals from APLU-member institutions. One from each category: Track I: Innovation and Track II: Impact.

The following criteria are central to the Malone Award and will be considered in both tracks:

• Commitment to advancing access and inclusion in internationalization efforts to under-served members of the university community;
• Engagement with under-explored areas of study, inquiry, and/or with under-represented regions of the world;
• Impact and scope of the individual's efforts on advancing pervasive internationalization.
• Individuals nominated must currently be employed at an APLU-member institution.

Nominations for the 2021 cycle are now closed.

• Track I: Innovation

  This track seeks to recognize an individual who has implemented innovative practices that have contributed to the advancement of pervasive internationalization of APLU campuses through curriculum, study abroad, research, program models, or other areas that contribute to the development of global education at member universities.

  Individuals nominated for recognition must have made transformative contributions to the international activities of public and land-grant institutions and be able to demonstrate the tangible effects of the innovation. Individuals nominated must have held a position at an APLU-member institution for at least two years. Please see our member page for a list of APLU-member institutions.

  Criteria for Track I: Innovation

  In addition to the criteria outlined above for both tracks, the Innovation track nomination criteria consists of:

  • An innovative, transformative, and ongoing opportunity (new within the last five years) for global education. For example, did the program result in an increased number of students who gained global competencies by the time of their graduation or increase the international mobility of students?
  • Evidence or proof of the concept and its results:
    • Does the concept or practice have a story to tell?
    • Are there quantitative or qualitative data that support the concept or practice as truly innovative? For instance, did it increase international student enrollment and/or retention or participation in education abroad? Did it extend the benefits of international education to previously underserved populations?
    • Did it gain broader adoption by another unit within the institution or by another college or university?
    • What are the effects of the innovative practice beyond the individual or the institution?

   

• Track II: Impact

  This track seeks to recognize the lifetime achievement and outstanding contributions made by a faculty member at an APLU-member university toward furthering international programs on campus, nationally or internationally. The purpose of this track is to recognize faculty or staff who, through their advocacy and leadership, have advanced international programs for academic institutions throughout their career. Individuals nominated must have held a position at an APLU-member institution for at least ten years. Please see our member page for a list of APLU-member institutions.

  Individuals may be recognized for their accomplishments, either based on their cumulative record or for specific outstanding contributions. Accomplishments in any area of international engagement may be considered. Contributions may have either impacted individual APLU-member universities or the APLU membership collectively.

  Criteria for Track II: Impact

  In addition to the criteria outlined above for both tracks, the Impact track nomination criteria also includes:

  • Institutionalization of practices and programs that advance internationalization as a result of the individual’s efforts.
     

• Nomination Requirements

  The nominator should submit the following items in a single PDF file to Jordan Merker at JMerker@aplu.org by May 3, 2021 at 11:59 pm EDT:

  • Either the Track I: Innovation Questionnaire or the Track II: Impact Questionnaire (please ensure you choose the correct questionnaire based on the intended track for the nomination);
  • A short curriculum vitae, resume, or bio sheet (5 pages maximum) with activities relevant to the award track of the individual being nominated;
  • One nomination letter that explains why this individual is deserving of the Malone Award and provides detailed information about the program(s) or activities that are the basis for the nomination;
  • Two letters of support for the nomination.
     

• Award Timeline and Process

  The deadline for submission of materials is May 3, 2021 at 11:59 pm EDT. The Commission will notify the winners in June and publicly announce the Malone Awards during the virtual CII Summer Meeting from July 12-14, 2021. Malone Award winners will receive a cash prize of $1,500 and are expected to prepare remarks to present during the Summer Meeting.

  Please direct any questions regarding the process to Jordan Merker at JMerker@aplu.org.

  All unsuccessful nominations will be retained and may be re-nominated, at the request of the nominator, for the next award period for that track.

¹Non-Practitioner Note

It is the policy of the Commission on International Initiatives and its Malone Award Committee that selection of Malone Award winners be based on contributions as “Non-Practitioners.” The Commission feels that there are other organizations and forums that recognize the work of “Practitioners.” Since this policy has led to some confusion about what is intended, the following clarification is provided.

“Non-Practitioners” hold positions where the primary responsibility of the individual is not the administration of international programs. Note that the position held by non-practitioners may be of a type which includes oversight, but not the direct administration, of international programs. Therefore, non-practitioners are faculty or staff who have made significant contributions to the innovation and impact of on- or off-campus international programs, projects or initiatives, but who do not have direct or major responsibilities for international program offices or the programs administered by those offices.

It is possible that Malone Award nominees may have worked in international programs as a “Practitioner,” but then left such roles of direct involvement in international programs and subsequently made significant contributions to international activities. An example would be an international program administrator (Practitioner) who became a university president or chancellor (Non-Practitioner). Such individuals can be nominated for the Malone Award based on contributions made in their “Non-Practitioner” but not their “Practitioner” roles.