Division of Student Affairs Awards
The first Division of Student Affairs Award was given in 1976, three years after the inception of the division itself. Through the years, hundreds of awards have been presented to both division and university staff. The awards recognize outstanding contributions within the division or the university.
Winning a DSA award means a lot because it is a recognition from your colleagues and peers that the work you are doing is not going unnoticed. While none of us get into these professions for the “fame and glory,” it’s good to know people see your impact and what you are trying to do for the students of Texas A&M.
2026 DSA Awards
Award nominations for the 2026 DSA Awards will open November 3, 2025 and will close February 6, 2026. The John J. Koldus, III Award nominations will open January 5, 2025 and will close on February 6, 2026.
The 2026 DSA Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. Breakfast will begin serving at 8:30 a.m. and the program is from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Award Categories
Expand each accordion for information on criteria, eligibility and nomination requirements for each award.
Criteria
Recipients are recognized for their strong interest in overall student development and success. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to, the following criteria:
- Contributions beyond occupational requirements through guidance, leadership and personal interest to enhance students’ experiences at Texas A&M University.
- Exemplifies the Aggie Core Values.
- Maintains direct student contact and is a role model.
- Serves as an advocate for students and student issues.
- Recognizes the uniqueness of every student.
- Shows a commitment to students’ wellbeing.
Eligibility
Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:
- Be a current faculty or staff employee of Texas A&M University’s main campus, branch campus or off-site locations.
- Be a current faculty or staff employee actively teaching/working at Texas A&M University’s main campus, branch campus or off-site locations at time of nomination submission.
- Not have received a John J. Koldus, III Award at any of the previous five DSA Awards ceremonies (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 or 2024).
- Only one nomination will be accepted per nominee. First nomination received will be used.
Recognition
- A memento and a $1,000 donation awarded to a student organization or student activity of the recipient’s choice
- Two individuals are awarded
Nomination Requirements
- Nomination form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- Three one-page letters of support (letters of support must be submitted from individuals other than the nominator)
- Professional photo of nominee
- Any student, student organization, faculty, or staff member may nominate for this award
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.
Please note only one staff/faculty nomination and one student nomination per nominee will be reviewed for consideration.
KOLDUS Award Nomination Template
Submit a Nomination
Criteria
Recipients are recognized for significant contributions beyond the expectations of one’s position to create an environment that enhances the Student Affairs mission. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to, the following criteria:
- Diversity and complexity of responsibilities.
- Excellence in performing job responsibilities.
- Dedication and commitment in going “above and beyond” the call of duty.
- A team player within the department and division.
- Overall contributions to the division and to Texas A&M University.
- Contributions to the student affairs profession.
- Direct or indirect impact on the development of students and student groups in creating an environment which enhances student development.
Eligibility
- Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:
- Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee. All staff below the DSA department directors are eligible.
- Be full-time and budgeted at least 50% time.
- Have a minimum of three full years of service in the Division of Student Affairs, as of January 1, 2025.
- Not have received an Association of Former Students University-Level Award from May 2020 through May 2024.
Recognition
- $2000 cash award and a framed certificate from The Association of Former Students
- Up to two individuals awarded
Nomination Requirements
- Nominator must be a DSA staff member or affiliate staff member serving DSA.
- Nomination form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- Three one-page letters of support (letters of support must be submitted from individuals other than the nominator)
- Professional photo of nominee
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.
Matson Award Nomination Template
Submit a Nomination
Criteria
Recipients are recognized for their outstanding individual contributions on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to the following criteria:
- Contributions toward job excellence – demonstrating performance on the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
- Innovation – demonstrating independent action and resourcefulness; encouraging new ideas and creativity; exhibiting leadership qualities within the context of position responsibilities; demonstrating other skills that exceed work expectations.
- Utilization of the two or more of the division’s strategic plan priorities of Inclusive & Caring Communities, Investing in Our Staff, Leveraging Resources, Student Learning through Engagement, Telling Our Story and Well-being to guide their practice.
Eligibility
- Recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements to be recognized:
- Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee. All staff below the DSA department directors are eligible.
- Be full-time and budgeted at least 50% time.
- Have a minimum of six months of service, as of January 31, 2025 in current department or any other department within the Division of Student Affairs.
- Not have received a division-level individual award at any of the previous three DSA Awards ceremonies (2022, 2023, 2024).
Recognition
- J. Malon Southerland Award: the highest scoring award recipient will be awarded a $1,000 cash award and memento
- Award of Distinction (Individual): five individuals will each be awarded a $1,000 cash award and memento
Nomination Requirements
- Nominator must be a DSA staff member or affiliate staff member serving DSA
- Nomination form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- Two one-page letters of support (letters of support must be submitted from individuals other than the nominator)
- Professional photo of nominee
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.
Individual Award of Distinction/Southerland Nomination Template
Submit a Nomination
Criteria
Teams are recognized for their outstanding contributions on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to the following criteria:
- Contributions toward team excellence – demonstrating collaboration and cooperation as a team leading to performance that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed expectations.
- Independently and cooperatively, team members demonstrate resourcefulness; encourage new ideas and creativity; exhibit leadership qualities within the context of position responsibilities; skills that exceed expectations.
- Utilization of the two or more of the division’s strategic plan priorities of Inclusive & Caring Communities, Investing in Our Staff, Leveraging Resources, Student Learning through Engagement, Telling Our Story and Well-being to guide their practice.
Eligibility
- Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee or DSA affiliate employee. All staff below the DSA department directors are eligible.
- Be full-time and budgeted at least 50% time.
Recognition
- Individual plaques
- Team members will be awarded $200 each or will split a maximum amount of $2,000.
- One team awarded
Nomination Requirements
- Nominator must be a DSA staff member or affiliate staff member serving DSA
- Nomination form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- Two one-page letters of support (letters of support must be submitted from individuals other than the nominator)
- Professional photo of nominees
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.
Team Award of Distinction Nomination Template
Submit a Nomination
Criteria
Recipients are recognized for their outstanding individual contributions on behalf of the Division of Student Affairs. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to the following criteria:
- Contributions toward job excellence – demonstrating performance on the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
- Innovation – demonstrating independent action and resourcefulness; encouraging new ideas and creativity; exhibiting leadership qualities within the context of position responsibilities; demonstrating other skills that exceed work expectations.
- Utilization of the two or more of the division’s strategic plan priorities of Inclusive & Caring Communities, Investing in Our Staff, Leveraging Resources, Student Learning through Engagement, Telling Our Story and Well-being to guide their practice.
Eligibility
- Be a current Division of Student Affairs graduate assistant.
- Be a full-time graduate student and budgeted as at least 50% time as a graduate assistant.
Recognition
- $500 cash award and memento
- One individual awarded
Nomination Requirements
- Nominator must be a DSA staff member or affiliate staff member serving DSA
- Nomination form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- One one-page letter of support (letter of support must be submitted from an individual other than the nominator)
- Professional photo of nominee
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.
Graduate Assistant Award of Distinction Nomination Template
Submit a Nomination
Criteria
Recipients are recognized for their outstanding service towards assessing student learning at Texas A&M University. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to the following criteria:
- Direct impact on students and/or student groups in creating an environment which enhances student learning in the co-curricular.
- Shows dedication on improving student learning in the co-curricular through using assessment results.
- Assessment of student learning is linked to the university, Division of Student Affairs, and/or supports the advancement of students achieving the institutional undergraduate/graduate learning outcomes.
Eligibility
- Be a current Division of Student Affairs employee. Team nomination: all members must be current DSA employees. All staff below the DSA department directors are eligible.
- Be full-time and budgeted at least 50% time.
- Have a minimum of six months of service, as of January 31, 2025 in current department or any other department within the Division of Student Affairs.
- Not have received an Assessment of Student Learning Award at any of the previous three DSA Awards ceremonies 2022, 2023 or 2024). Applies to individual nomination or all members of a team nomination.
Recognition
- Individual: recipient will receive a $500 cash award and memento
- Team: individual plaques; team members will share a total cash award of $500
- One individual or team awarded
Nomination Requirements
- Nominator must be a DSA staff member or affiliate staff member serving DSA.
- Nomination Form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- Two one-page letters of support (letters of support must be submitted from individuals other than the nominator)
- Professional Photo of Nominee
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.
Assessment of Student Learning Nomination Template
Submit a Nomination
Criteria
Recipients are recognized for their outstanding individual contributions in support of the Division of Student Affairs. The selection committee considers, but is not limited to the following criteria:
- Contributions toward job excellence – demonstrating performance on the job that is consistently outstanding and frequently outside the normal scope of prescribed duties.
- Regularly goes above and beyond expectations to ensure that Division of Student Affairs staff can carry out their work.
- Provides outstanding customer service to the Division of Student Affairs staff.
Eligibility
- Be a current employee of the following departments at Texas A&M:
- Facilities – Student Affairs
- Finance – Student Affairs
- Human Resources – Student Affairs
- Technology Services – Student Affairs
- VRSC Affiliate Staff
- Directors and higher are not eligible
- Be full-time and budgeted at least 50% time
Recognition
- Recipient will receive a $500 cash award and memento
Nomination Requirements
- Nominator must be a DSA staff member or affiliate staff member serving DSA
- Nomination form (separate nomination letter is not required)
- Two one-page letters of support (letters of support must be submitted from individuals other than the nominator)
- Professional photo of nominee
Failure to follow nomination requirements exactly will result in a disqualified nomination. No exceptions will be made.