Innovation of the Year Program

Maricopa Community Colleges and the League for Innovation in the Community College co-sponsor the Maricopa Innovation of the Year Awards Program.  This program provides an opportunity for all employees to showcase innovations they have designed and implemented that positively impact the education of students.  The Innovation of the Year Award is designed to recognize and acknowledge these employees, their innovative programs and projects, and their commitment to excellence in education through innovation.  

• We hope that all Maricopa Community Colleges employees will 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.

Each college and the District Office submits an innovation for presentation and consideration before a selection committee, who sends forward one innovation to receive the Maricopa Community Colleges Innovation of the Year Award.   This winning innovation receives the Dr. Paul M. Pair Innovation of the Year Award of $2,000 to be used to further the innovation.   The innovation is also acknowledged by the League for Innovation in the Community College, along with other winning innovations submitted by community colleges from across the country, on their website and may be included in other League materials.

Eligibility

• Employees and employee teams are eligible for nomination by an employee or by self-nomination. Employee 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

Innovations will be reviewed per the following criteria, each of which has been linked to a Maricopa Value.

• 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