Inclusive Excellence Award Nomination Form

The American Kinesiology Association (AKA) promotes and pursues an evolving understanding of the importance of human interaction in kinesiology beyond the level of tolerance. AKA believes that inclusive excellence exemplifies an organization’s commitment to efforts that promote both diversity and inclusion with the goal of creating a working and learning environment that encourages varied perspectives and an open exchange of ideas in an unbiased and non-prejudicial way. An organization’s commitment to inclusive excellence is best demonstrated by the strategic, comprehensive, and sustained infusion of inclusion efforts into the central functions of the academic unit (e.g., recruitment and retention practices, hiring processes, curriculum development, administrative structure, etc.).

AKA is committed to pursuing the development and involvement of diverse and inclusive Kinesiology departments and partnering with other organizations and communities that engage in practices that promote these concepts. AKA’s Inclusive Excellence Award Committee seeks to recognize academic units that exemplify the core principles of inclusive excellence.

The award criteria require evidence of significant contributions in each of the following areas:

• promoting an understanding of inclusive excellence within respective academic units or the field of kinesiology;
• developing innovative programs, initiatives, strategies, etc. designed to enhance AKA diversity and inclusion; and
• sustaining a commitment to developing diversity and inclusion in the field of kinesiology through teaching, research, and/or service.
• demonstrated membership and support of historically underrepresented and/or marginalized individuals.

Administrators or faculty from an AKA-member academic unit are welcome to submit a nomination for their respective academic unit or on behalf of a fellow AKA-member academic unit. It is advised that in advance of nominating an academic unit nominators notify the appropriate unit leadership.

The AKA Inclusive Excellence Award Committee will review nominations and select a finalist for the award. The Chairperson(s) of the Inclusive Excellence Award Committee will provide the committee’s recommendation to the AKA Executive Committee. The AKA Executive Committee will act upon the recommendation of the committee and the award recipient will be notified by the committee chairperson(s). The award recipient will be recognized at the annual AKA conference and on the AKA website.

The nomination form for the AKA Inclusive Excellence Award can be found below.   The deadline for submitting nomination forms for each year is September 30, 2025 at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time. 

1) This completed nomination form.

2) Letter of nomination (not to exceed more than 3 pages in length) that:

1. Addresses the rationale for the nomination for the Inclusive Excellence Award,
2. Summarizes the provided evidence that meets the established award criteria; and
3. Highlights the academic unit’s significant contributions to the promotion of inclusive excellence.

3) Evidence that supports the nominee’s suitability for the award. This evidence may be, but is not limited to the following, as appropriate:

• Work demonstrating the unit’s activities that promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the field of kinesiology;
• Research that supports and advances the understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion within the field of kinesiology;
• Innovative teaching practices that advances understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion within the field of kinesiology – through course curricula, new teaching strategies, development of diversity and/or inclusion-oriented academic courses, etc.;
• Service that demonstrates an advanced commitment to diversity and inclusion;
• Demonstrated mentorship and support of historically underrepresented and/or marginalized individuals.

4) Up to two additional letters of support (no letter should exceed more than 2 pages in length)