Edith Sayre Auslander Vision Awards

Edith Sayre Auslander is a Tucsonan native as well as a University of Arizona alumnus and former faculty member. She served on the Arizona Board of Regents and was instrumental in establishing the Commission on the Status of Women in 1991.

2024 Nominees and Awardees were recognized October 17, 2024 at our awards ceremony. You can view all the participants and quotes from their nomination letters below!

2024 Mentoring & Visionary Awards presentation

The Commission on the Status of Women created the Vision Awards in 1999 to honor leaders who manage their units in ways that exemplify the vision set out by the Arizona Board of Regents Commission in 1990. University staff, faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students, and administrators are encouraged to nominate individuals who cultivate diversity and advance the CSW goals relating to:

• Campus climate
• Career and professional development
• Issues of equity and inclusion.

Eligibility

Two awards are given: Established Visionary and Emerging Visionary. Current University employees are eligible to apply for these awards.

Established Visionary is open to those with the title of dean, department head, director, and chair, and those in positions with significant personnel oversight responsibilities. Should have demonstrated a longstanding commitment (5 years or more) of leadership, diversity cultivation, and advancement in CSW goals outlined below.

Emerging Visionary is open to those in university staff, classified staff, and faculty positions. May not have the expanse of control over a department or unit but will have demonstrated a strong support and encouragement for diversity cultivation, and advancement in CSW goals outlined below.

Award Criteria

The goals are described in question format below and may be explored in University of Arizona diversity reports to gain a deeper appreciation of the characteristics the Vision Award seeks to recognize. The nominee’s performance should be described in three general areas: Campus Climate, Development, and Demonstrated Ability to Seek Equity through the Pillars of Engaging, Innovating, Partnering and Synergy.
The nomination letter should contain specific and verifiable information describing the nominee’s commitment to diversity and the successes that have been achieved. The questions that follow are intended to assist in the development of a comprehensive testimonial and will be used to guide the Vision Awards Evaluation Committee. Please use the below questions to help guide the nomination letter. These questions are not meant to be answered one by one. Selecting a few, then shaping the nomination around those themes is ideal.

Campus Climate

• How does the nominee work to create and/or sustain a workplace that values diversity, civility and respect among and between various campus groups: faculty, staff, graduate students, andundergraduates?
• How does the nominee address problems related to discrimination, harassment, and retaliation?
• Has the nominee promoted access to available implemented formal or informal programs to promote awareness and understanding of gender and culture differences?
• Has the nominee implemented diversity-focused hiring practices that ensure adequate consideration of women and minorities in all positions within the unit?
• How does the nominee model these values in their interactions with all groups?

Professional Development

• How does the nominee promote a culture of learning and personal advancement?
• How are department funds used to ensure appropriate professional development for employees, including graduate and undergraduate students?
• Does the nominee encourage mentoring and cross training within the unit?
• Does the nominee support use of the 16-hour professional development release policy?
• Does the nominee encourage use of the Qualified Tuition Reduction program and/or participation in professional development opportunities offered through Human Resources or other departments?

Vision for Equity and Inclusion

• How does the nominee use the pillars of engaging, innovating, partnering, and synergy to promote equity within the unit?
• How do unit practices help to ensure equity by gender and ethnicity at all levels, pay grades, and employment groups?
• How do unit performance appraisal practices ensure appropriate rewards and recognition for all members of the unit?
• How does the nominee promote shared governance and specifically the inclusion of women and minorities in unit decision-making across all levels and employment groups, including graduate and undergraduate student employees?
• Does the nominee support flexible schedules, enable use of Family Medical Leave, and facilitate Compassionate Transfer of Leave policies?
• How does the nominee create a desirable and productive workplace that values the needs of individuals while achieving unit goals?