Northern Illinois University's Presidential Commission on the Status of Women, in cooperation with the Office of the President, Affirmative Action and Diversity Resources, the Office of the Provost, the Division of Student Affairs, and the Women's Resource Center, recognize the achievements of outstanding women students on an annual basis.
This recognition process was begun in 1980 as the Women's Student Leadership Awards. These awards were intended to foster the development of leadership among women students, both graduate and undergraduate. For this reason, students who hold formal office in campus or community organizations have been obvious candidates for this recognition. Beyond that, it increasingly has been the concern of the Commission to recognize those students whose leadership may be less formal in nature, who entertain non-traditional aspirations, who have overcome significant obstacles in the process of pursuing their education, or whose achievements and contributions might otherwise go unrecognized.
The award title was changed in the Fall of 1987 to the "NIU Outstanding Women Student Awards".
The awards are intended to encourage the full participation of women students in all facets of the University experience and in their communities; to support their development of corresponding strengths, both cooperative and competitive; and to celebrate their achievements and contributions, including those not usually recognized by other award programs.
Eligibility for the awards is restricted to women students with an expected graduation date during the award year, i.e. to seniors, third-year law students and graduate students who will receive their degrees May, August or December of the award year.
The information sheet completed by nominees includes data concerning departmental and university leadership roles, community involvement, other awards and scholarships, goals and aspirations, and obstacles overcome in pursuit of their education. Preference is given to candidates with a 3.0 GPA or better.
Annotated nominations are invited from interested faculty, staff and students. Women who are nominated will be notified and invited to complete an information sheet which includes specifics of their scholarship, leadership service to the University, community involvement, goals and obstacles overcome.
The completed information sheets are reviewed by a selection committee comprised of representatives from all of the sponsoring units plus two prior award winners. The awards will be bestowed to the selected students during a reception at which they, their nominators and, when possible, their family and friends are present.