Sutton Awards

I. Purpose

To recognize Alabamians who have demonstrated leadership and outstanding accomplishment in the field of institutional research and related fields. The award should be a meaningful recognition of A5:B21 individuals who have provided exemplary service and leadership and who have actively supported and enhanced the goals of ALAIR.

II. Criteria

All eligible award recipients must at some time have been involved in institutional research or a related field in Alabama. Beyond that, at least one of the following criteria must be met.

1. Service to ALAIR, SAIR, or AIR in the form of serving as an officer, committee member, or conference host; making presentations; and other forms of volunteer activity.
2. A career in institutional research or a related field exemplifying leadership, accomplishment, and innovation.
3. Contribution to the field of institutional research through specific accomplishments and innovative endeavors which enhance the field, institution, or community (local, state, nation).
4. Retirement will not be a criterion.
5. Former members of ALAIR and individuals who are not members of ALAIR and individuals who are not members of ALAIR will be eligible, as will former Alabamians who have been involved in institutional research or a related field in Alabama.

III. Selection Process

1. Annually, the Immediate Past President will chair the awards committee and develop a list of not more than three candidates for recommendation to the Executive Committee. The recommendation of the committee should be ranked. The President will appoint a chairperson who will then appoint the other members of the committee.
2. An affirmative vote by the majority of the Executive Committee members present during voting is required for approval of a Joseph T. Sutton Award.
3. Criteria and procedures for selecting The Joseph T. Sutton Award recipient are distributed annually to all ALAIR members.
4. Only one award should be presented. However, there could be co-recipients, for example, in the case of two or more people working together on a significant body of research.
5. The award should be presented at the ALAIR Annual Conference by the President and the Immediate Past-President (or his/her designee).

IV. Form of Award

The award recipient should be presented a plaque delineating his or her service or contribution to institutional research. In addition, a letter should be sent to the president or director of the recipient's institution or agency informing of the award.

ALAIR Sutton Awards Recipients