Recipients of Awards/Big Idea Submissions
2021
For the 2021 Virtual Summit, NAASS members submitted a ‘One Cool Thing’ – a special initiative or project that they rolled out to promote summer and special sessions at their institutions.
Each submission was featured at the Virtual Summit (NOV. 8-12, 2021) and showcased on NAASS social media. To view all submissions, visit the ‘One Cool Thing ‘ page.
2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 NAASS Conference was cancelled. Nevertheless, the NAASS Creative and Innovative Awards Committee was dedicated to highlighting big ideas and creative initiatives implemented by NAASS member institutions in summer and special sessions. A full list of 2020 Big Idea submissions can be found here.
Connecting with Instagram Live
Georgetown University uses Instagram Live to promote virtual pre-college learning
Creating Virtual Community
University of California, Santa Cruz repurposes Whova to create community
Getting Ahead in Summer 2020
Summer At SLU launches two targeted campaigns for incoming freshmen and high school students
Implementing the Summer Launchpad
The University of Virginia creates the UVA Launchpad to help undergraduates get ahead
Summer Scholars Goes Virtual
Virginia Commonwealth University converts their Summer Scholars program online
Masters Program Converts Online
Western Carolina University Masters of Counseling Program converts online during the pandemic
Nursing Residency Pivots
Western Carolina University nursing students experience real medical work during summer 2020
Human vs. Bot: Who Will Win?
University of Wisconsin-Madison implements a chat bot for Summer Term website
Marketing Student-to-Student
University of California San Diego pilots student-to-student marketing to increase summer enrollment
Summer Session Scholarships
Western Washington University designs scholarship opportunities for summer session to recruit students
Facebook Live: The Next Best Thing
University of Wisconsin-Madison uses Facebook Live for Wisconsin Experience Summer Launch (WESL)
Transitioning Online during COVID-19
University of California, Berkeley Summer Sessions cultivates connection for high school students
Preparing for Virtual Instruction
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse creates two-week online flex training to prep for online fall courses
Operational Processes: Digital Signatures
Western Carolina University converts necessary signatures for documents to digital authorizations
Graduating On Time in a Pandemic
The University of South Carolina collaborates with departments to ensure seniors graduate on time
2019
In 2019, the Creative and Innovative Awards Committee transitioned NAASS Awards to Big Ideas, which gives all member institutions the opportunity to showcase creative initiatives and innovative strategies implemented in summer and special sessions. At the 2019 Annual Conference in New Orleans, NAASS colleges and universities showcased their Big Ideas in a poster session for all attendees to see.
Using Summer Sessions for Degree Progression and Retention of Transfer Students
The University of South Carolina piloted Jump Start in 2019 to give transfer students the opportunity to take two courses in their major in summer
Summer Transfer Student Program
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill unveils a transfer student program in 2016 which has helped shorten the usual time to complete a degree for many transfer students
Leveraging Partnerships to Reinforce Summer Campus Life
Summer staff at University of California, Irvine showcase the different ways to leverage partnerships across the university to build success in summer and special sessions
Public and Private Intrastate Collaboration
The North Carolina Association of Summer Sessions (NCASS) is a state-wide organization whose mission is to foster collaboration with public and private institutions in the state
Accelerating Success with a Free Summer Course
University of Illinois at Chicago piloted a new program in summer 2018 that allowed students to enroll in two courses for the price of one to increase graduation and retention rates
Interactive Media Campaign
University of North Carolina at Charlotte employed a highly successful interactive media campaign to recruit students in summer 2019
Beyond FAQs: Using Technology to Better Serve Students
University of Wisconsin-Madison implements chatbot to assist students in summer
Pre-Med and Health Professions: Across the Life Span
Syracuse University hosts a specialized course for students interested in pre-med and health professions in the summer
Winter Session at Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University’s Summer-Winter Office pilots a winter session with five undergraduate online courses in 2017
2018
NAASS Awards
Administrative: Large Institutions (10,000 or more)
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Summer Session Staff/Faculty Reduced Fee Program”
Credit: Large Institutions (10,000 or more)
University of California, Berkeley for “Race and the Law – Summer Minor”
Credit: Small Institutions (Under 10,000)
Brandeis University for “Health, Law, and Justice”
Marketing – Single Idea: Large Institutions (10,000 or more)
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Be a Summer Slug!”
Marketing – Single Idea: Small Institutions ( Under 10,000)
Wellesley College for “One Wellesley Summer”
Marketing – Overall Plan: Large Institutions (10,000 and above)
Virginia Commonwealth University for “Some Things Are Just Better in the Summer”
Marketing – Overall Plan: Small Institutions(Under 10,000)
Sacramento State for “Summer Academies for High School Students”
Western Region Awards
Marketing Awards
- Best Marketing Idea (Gary Award)
University of California, Berkeley for “Vintage Stickers” - Best Comp. Marketing Effort by Summer Session
California State University, Chico for “Summer Session Keeps You Cruising To Graduation”
Print Media Awards
- Best Printed Piece (Charlie Award)
University of the Pacific for “Singing Hands” - Best Print Media Advertising
University of Maryland, Baltimore County for “Grit Going” - Most Innovative Printed Promotional Item
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Stay for Summer”
Program Award
- Best Credit Program
Evergreen State College for “Business of Cannabis” - Best Administrative Program
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Summer Instructor’s Guide” - Best Use of a Stolen Idea (Carol Switzer Award)
Santa Clara University (culprit) for “Get the Scoop on Summer” - Best Use of a Stolen Idea (Carol Switzer Award)
Kansas State University (victim) for “Get the Scoop on Summer”
Website Award
- Best Website
University of Rhode Island
2017
Administrative (10,000 or more)
Kansas State University for “Jump Start for Business Transfer Students”
Administrative (Under 10,00)
University of Alaska, Fairbanks for “Combining English Immersion with an Alaskan Experience”
Credit (7500 and above)
University of California, Berkley for “Berkeley Charter of Professional Accountancy”
Credit (Under 7500)
Brandeis University for “Bioinspired Design”
Non-Credit (7500 and above)
Rutgers for “Rutgers New Brunswick Writer’s Conference”
Marketing – Single Idea (7500 and above)
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Summer Session Class Video Promotions”
Marketing – Single Idea ( Under 7500)
Eastman, School of Music for Summer@Eastman, Eastman School of Music”
Marketing – Over Marketing Idea (7500 and above)
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Summer Academy”
Marketing – Over Marketing Idea (Under 7500)
California State University, Sacramento for “Sacramento State Summer Session 2018”
2016
Administrative (10,000 or more)
University of North Carolina, Chapell Hill for “Summer Degree Completion Program”
Administrative (Under 10,00)
University of Alaska, Fairbanks for “Alaska Dreaming”
Credit (7500 and above)
University of California, Berkley for “Summer Minor in Journalism”
Credit (Under 7500)
Brandeis University for “Justice Brandeis Semester Program”
Credit (Under 7500)
Truman State for “Science Fiction & Critical Thinking in the Classroom”
Non-Credit (7500 and above)
Truman State University for “Summer Talent Academy for Professions in Health Care”
Marketing – Single Idea (7500 and above)
Western Carolina University for “Advising Day Sumer Splash”
Marketing – Single Idea ( Under 7500)
Truman State University for “Who Deserves Your Voice in the Race for Summer Sessions”
Marketing – Over Marketing Idea (7500 and above)
University of California, Santa Cruz for “Summer Session 2016 – Wish You Were Here!”
2015
Administrative (7500 and above)
University of Notre Dame for “EForms”
Administrative (fewer than 7500)
No entries.
Credit (7500 and above)
University of Tampa for “Step Up Program”
Credit (7500 and above)
Virginia Tech University for “Summer Academy”
Credit (7500 and above)
University of California-Berkeley for “Global Edge Program”
Non-Credit (7500 and above)
Stanford University for “Silicon Valley Innovation Academy”
Non-Credit (7500 and above)
Boston University for “Academic Immersion Program”
Non-Credit (7500 and above)
Southern Methodist University for “SMU Summer Youth Program”
Non-Credit (fewer than 7500)
Bemidji State University for “Ojibwe Language Program”
Marketing – Single Idea (7500 and above)
Syracuse University for “Plinko”
Marketing Plan – Single Idea (7500 and above)
John Hopkins University for “CollegeWeek Live Collaborative”
2014
Administrative (7500 and above)
Binghamton University for “B-ONLINE Program”
Administrative (fewer than 7500)
No entries.
Credit (7500 and above)
University of California at Berkley for “Pathways to Four Year Universities Program”
Credit (fewer than 7500)
Hampshire College for “Institute for Curatorial Practice”
Non-Credit (7500 and above)
No award presented.
Non-Credit (fewer than 7500)
Truman State University for “Zombie Scholars Academy”
Marketing – Strategies (7500 and above)
Purdue University for “2014 Think Summer Campaign”
Marketing – Ideas (7500 and above)
Oregon State University for “Creating Awareness through Contests”
Marketing – Strategies and Ideas (fewer than 7500)
Seattle University for “Summer Program Ambassador Camp”