The 2021 Bellwether Policy Summit will be held on January 22nd and the Community College Futures Assembly will be held on January 25th and 26th. Both will take place as virtual conferences. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What are the Bellwether Awards?
The Bellwether Awards are an integral part of the Community College Futures Assembly, established in 1995.The Assembly is sponsored by the Alamo Colleges District and focuses on cutting-edge, trendsetting programs that other colleges might find worthy of replicating.The Bellwether Awards are given annually in three categories to colleges with outstanding and innovative programs or practices.
The Bellwether Award has been compared to football’s Heisman Award because it is competitively judged and is an award given by your peers in community colleges, with no cash award. It has also been called “the award of awards” because many institutions with programs that have won other awards apply for the Bellwether Award. Moreover, previous recipients of the Bellwether Award have said that it has been a springboard for other types of recognition and/or funding.
NOMINATION AND APPLICATION
Why do I have to apply if I was already nominated?
Selection of the finalists is a competitive process. It is essential that those nominated provide key information addressing specific criteria, in order to be competitively judged in the selection of finalists.
Can you tell me who nominated me?
It is our practice not to reveal the specific source of nominations.In general, Bellwether nominations come from numerous sources, including co-sponsoring organizations, state officials, previously competitively reviewed presentations at other national conventions, and programs featured in the media.
Should I submit additional materials with my application?
No. Additional materials are requested only from finalists after they have been notified of their finalist status. Please stick to the application guidelines.
Can I submit my application electronically?
Yes. Applications will be accepted ONLY via the online application submission page. We are not accepting applications via mail, fax, or email.
Can a program be submitted in more than one category?
No. Only one category can be chosen per program, so choose the category your program fits best. However, multiple programs can be applied for different categories.
What is the judging process like?
Choosing finalists: There is a national panel of judges in each category. The judges evaluate the programs based on the cited criteria and choose ten finalists for each category.
Choosing winners: The Bellwether Selection Committee chooses winners based on additional program materials in conjunction with the presentation provided at the Futures Assembly.
What are the three award categories?
- 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.
Note: Please note that if your application is not selected as a finalist under the original category you applied for, the same application can also be considered for another category internally in a case when the judges see strengths of your program matching with another category..