NASPA Excellence Awards

NC State’s Preliminary Recruitment of Exceptional Prospectives (PREP) program has been named a Bronze Award Winner for the NASPA Excellence Awards in the “Off-Campus, Commuter, Non-traditional, Graduate, Professional, and related” category. Consideration for awards is based on the following criteria:

• Impact on student learning and success demonstrated through transition, retention, or achievement outcomes
• Relevance to institutional mission and/or applicability to student affairs profession institutionally, regionally, or nationally
• Success in addressing student needs or responding to critical campus concerns and issues
• Involvement, inclusion, and collaboration with academic affairs and other campus departments in planning and implementation
• Use of innovative and creative methods, practices, or activities including the use of social media and emerging learning technologies
• Application of available or emerging theoretical models, practical research, and program assessment

The PREP program, an initiative within the Leadership, Policy and Adult Higher Education (LPAHE) program, brings master’s and doctoral students from diverse and traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic minority backgrounds to campus during Recruitment Weekend.

Participants receive travel stipends and on-campus meals, lodging, and transportation. Additional highlights of the weekend include social events with current Higher Education students, faculty-led presentations, panel discussions, and resume critique sessions. Perhaps most impactful are the opportunities for participants to address issues directly related to the experiences of students of color.

The PREP program is a clear demonstration of NC State’s goal of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where differences are respected and valued. Engaging outstanding students from underrepresented backgrounds during campus visits serves as an impactful start to their graduate school careers. Two years into the program’s existence, LPAHE has seen a 156% increase over 2013-2014 in the number of admissions applications submitted by students of color.

LPAHE’s partnerships with University Housing, OIED, the College of Education, the Division of Student Leadership and Engagement, and the Graduate School are essential to PREP’s far-reaching impact. Tiffany Davis, Ph.D., Teaching Assistant Professor and Higher Education Master’s Program Coordinator, has been instrumental in driving the success of the program. Many thanks to Dr. Davis for her steadfast commitment to the Leadership, Policy and Adult Higher Education program, and for helping to bring national recognition to the excellent work of the PREP program.