DEAC Awards

Submissions are being accepted through March 20, 2024

The DEAC is proud to recognize excellence in distance education leadership, teaching, service, scholarship, and innovation through its awards program. Dating back to 1961, the DEAC annually honors those who make extraordinary contributions to distance education and to quality assurance through accreditation.

The 2024 Awards and Recognition Committee is pleased to accept nominations of individuals affiliated with DEAC who exemplify excellence for the categories listed below. Nominations are being accepted through March 20, 2024, and can be completed using the online submission forms.

Distinguished Service Award

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes the extraordinary and long-standing performance of a DEAC-accredited institution member or DEAC volunteer whose outstanding contributions support excellence in teaching, learning and student outcomes in distance education and whose efforts exemplify exceptional achievement in serving the needs of students and assuring the quality of the student experience in distance education.

Innovation Award

The Innovation Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an individual or a team in creating and successfully implementing a novel approach to improve the quality of service and/or the creativity in the delivery of distance education in ways that made a significant and positive difference to the learning experience for students enrolled at a DEAC-accredited institution.

Rising Star Award

The Rising Star Award recognizes an emerging leader at a DEAC institution whose outstanding performance exemplifies ongoing and exceptional growth in contributing to distance education and a strong potential for promotion into higher levels of leadership and responsibility in the field of distance education and accreditation.

Person of the Year Award

The Person of the Year Award is DEAC’s highest recognition for individual achievement. This award acknowledges and celebrates the enduring achievement of a very special individual whose vision and scholarly work shaped have the path forward for distance education accreditation through leadership, innovation, partnerships, a focus on education quality, and a commitment to serving students.