Social Justice Award (faculty)

The School of Social Work's annual Social Justice Award recognizes a faculty member (or school organization) who has demonstrated a commitment and dedication to social justice ideals through their social work program activities. You may nominate more than one individual/organization.

• Timeline: Nominations are generally due each year around Feb. 1. Announcement is made at May Commencement. Look for an email soliciting nominations early in spring semester.

Outstanding Staff Award

The School of Social Work Staff recognizes and honors a staff member for their exceptional performance, achievement, service and support of day-to-day activities that enhance the school’s image and mission. A staff member must have a minimum of one year of employment with the school by the submission due date.

• Timeline: Nominations are generally due each year around March 1. The recipient announcement is made at the April School Assembly. Look for an email soliciting nominations early in spring semester.

SSW student awards

The Office of Student Success awards the following annual student honors:

• Elaine Z. Rothenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
• David N. Saunders Legislative Internship Fund
• Social Justice Award
• Service and Leadership Award
• Field Impact Award
  

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• Timeline: Nominations are generally due each year around Feb. 1. Recipients are recognized at the Student Year End Celebration at the end of spring semester. Look for an email soliciting nominations early in spring semester.

Community Partner Awards

The Office of Field Education annually recognizes our external field personnel and a partner agency for their excellence in educating our students in their field experiences. Awards are:

• Outstanding New Field Instructor
• Outstanding Field Instructor
• Outstanding Task Supervisor
• Amy Rosenblum Field Instructor Award
• Field Liaison of the Year
• Outstanding Community Partner
  

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• Timeline: Nominations are generally due each year around March. 1. Recipients are recognized at the Community Partner Awards Ceremony in late spring semester. Look for an email soliciting nominations early in spring semester.

Distinguished Faculty Awards

SCHEV Outstanding Faculty Awards

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) annually makes awards considered the commonwealth's highest honor for faculty at Virginia's public and private colleges and universities. These awards recognize superior accomplishments in teaching, research and public service. VCU may nominate six faculty, plus one "rising star" (early-career faculty). 

• Timeline – Nominations are generally due in late September, submitted to the dean or via self-nomination to the Office of the Provost's Faculty Affairs. An awards ceremony is held in early March. » Learn more

President's Awards for Professional and Administrative Distinction

The Office of the President awards three annual honors to recognize exceptional members of the VCU and VCU Health System staff community for outstanding performance, achievement and service excellence. The awards are:

• President’s Award of Excellence
• President’s Outstanding Achievement Award
• The Danny Woodward President’s Service Excellence Award

Timeline:  Nominations generally open in late January or early February and close in late March. Awards are presented at the Service Recognition Celebration in April. » Learn more

Staff Senate Awards for Excellence

VCU Staff Senate Awards for Excellence are the premier university awards offered within VCU, for VCU and VCU Health staff members. Any VCU or VCU Health staff or faculty member may nominate a staff member who meets the specific criteria for each of the awards. The awards are:

• Exceptional Customer Service Award
• Executive Award for Staff Advocacy 
• Benchmark Award for New Employees
• Champion of Diversity and Inclusion Award
• Guiding Star Award for Career Achievement
• Professional Integrity Award

• Timeline: Nominations generally open in November and close in January. Awards are presented at a ceremony in spring semester. » Learn more

Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment

The Presidential Awards for Community Multicultural Enrichment (PACME) recognizes VCU and VCU Health individuals and groups who have made exemplary contributions with regard to promoting civility, building community, establishing cross-cultural initiatives and nurturing an inclusive environment throughout the university and area communities. The Riese-Melton Award is an additional honor bestowed on one of the recipients of the four awards:

• Academic and Administrative Leadership Award
• Faculty Award
• Staff Award
• Tristen Sloane Student Award

Dorris Douglas Budd Award

This award recognizes a full-time administrative support staff who is reliable, able to evaluate and solve problems, is innovative in their jobs, knows where to find answers within internal and external "connections," is service-oriented, shows pride in both VCU/VCU Health and their job, and has demonstrated professional growth. Established in 1981, it is named for a staff member who worked in the office of the Vice President of Administration from 1951 to 1981.

• Timeline: Nominations generally open in late January or early February and close in late March. Awards are presented at the Service Recognition Celebration in April. » Learn more
• Past SSW recipients: Lila Garlick, 1994, 1986; Jane Crawley, 1982 (inaugural recipient)

Burnside Watstein Awards

VCU's Burnside Watstein Awards honor faculty, staff, students, alumni and local community members whose work has positively impacted VCU’s LGBTQIA+ community. Established in 2007 by the LGBTQ+ Subcommittee (now EqualityVCU) and named for former co-chairs Chris Burnside and Sarah Watstein, this award has recognized more than 50 pioneering and transformational individuals who have affected the lives of VCU’s LGBTQ+ community through both professional responsibilities and volunteer work. 

• Timeline: Nominations generally open in January and close in late February. The awards celebration is held in late March. » Learn more
• Past recipients with SSW connections:  Alum Emmin Bickford (Community Award, 2024); Beck Oh (Student Award), 2023; Van Vox (Staff Award), 2023; Melissa-Irene Jackson (Alumni-Community Award), 2023; Caroline Richards (Student Award), 2019; alum Afton Bradley (Community Award), 2018; alum Brenda Kriegel, 2016; Dr. Liz Cramer, 2013; alum Tarynn Witten, 2009; Rachel Douglas (Student Award), 2008

Excellence in Community Engagement Awards

Presented by the Council for Community Engagement Grants and Awards Committee in the Division of Community Engagement, these annual awards recognize individuals and groups who exemplify the spirit of meaningful, collaborative and impactful community engagement at VCU and beyond. Categories include:

• Transformative Educational Experience
• Community-Engaged Research Partnership
• Demonstrated Impact in Community Partnership
• Outstanding Community Engagement by a Student or Group of Students
• Outstanding Community Partner

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  Timeline: TBD. » Learn more
• Past SSW recipients: Alex Wagaman, 2025

Black History in the Making Award

VCU's Department of African American Studies annually recognizes the achievements of African American students through the award. Recipients are typically chosen based on criteria such as academic excellence, service to the university or community, and intern, professional or work experiences that place them at the forefront of their careers.

• Timeline:  Following an internal unit nomination process, submissions are generally due to the Department of African American Studies in mid-February, with an awards ceremony in late February. » Learn more
• Recent SSW recipients: Reem Shawkat, Ph.D. student 2025; Faith Holmes, B.S.W. student, and Jenée Lee, Ph.D. student, 2024; Oscar Kemp, B.S.W. student, 2023; Elicia Carter, M.S.W. student, 2022

Student Leadership Awards

The VCU Student Government Association sponsors the annual Student Leadership Awards, which recognize up to 10 individuals and eight organizations, reflecting outstanding work from February to February across two academic years. Note: The Advisor of the Year Award goes to a staff recipient; students also vote on SLA categories.

• Timeline: Nominations generally open in late January and close in mid-February. Awards are presented in late April. » Learn more