The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2013. CCAE was formed in June 1993 when three constituent organizations merged to foster synergy among the major advancement disciplines.
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It Was 20 Years Ago
Today . . .
In celebration of CCAE’s 20th Anniversary, we look back at its inaugural National Conference as one unified organization, . . .
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By uniting those concerned with educational advancement in Canada, CCAE offers its members an unparalleled variety of benefits.
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CCAE 2013 Webinar Series: Branches and Alumni Groups
• Advancement and Athletics: The Role of Athletics in Maximizing Philanthropic Support , May 22, 2013
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National Conference
June 8-10, 2013
St. John's
Pre-Conference Workshop for New Professionals in Advancement
June 7
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2013 CCAE National Conference
Local Institutional Support
Please review carefully as some categories have changed. CCAE member institutions are allowed to submit each entry in only ONE category, so please choose the category that best fits the entry. As a CCAE member, you are welcome to submit different entries in as many categories as you like. Please contact the Chair, Prix d’Excellence if you have questions about the categories.
Chair, Prix d’Excellence 2013
Lisa Woodcock
Associate Director; Annual Fund
University of Guelph
50 Stone Rd E
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
(519) 824-4120 ext.52904
Email: liwoodco@uoguelph.ca
Please complete the 2-Page Entry Form to accompany your submissions. Any additional criteria required for specific categories are named in the category description.
Category 1: Best Alumni Event
This category includes individual alumni events such as social or networking activities, educational alumni events and alumni receptions. Events may be annual or one-time. Judges will look for indicators of alumni interest and participation such as attendance and volunteerism, public and community interest, theme, uniqueness and future impact. Please note the overall costs for the event, and include any materials designed for the event such as invitations, programs and brochures, along with any media coverage (internal or external) of the event. Events related to fundraising or development should be submitted in Category 2.
Category 2: Best Development Event
This category includes events relating to a fundraising program such as donor recognition celebrations, gift announcements, campaign events (launches, milestones, closing events), annual fund events, and other related development- focused events. Please note the overall costs for the event, and include any materials designed for the event such as invitations, programs and brochures, along with any media coverage (internal or external) of the event. . .
Category 3: Best Special Event
Included in this category are individual one-time special events such as open houses, building dedications and anniversary galas aimed at various constituencies. Judges will look for sound planning, creativity and successful implementation. Please note the overall costs for the event, and include any materials designed for the event, such as invitations, programs and brochures, along with any media coverage (internal or external) of the event. Alumni or Development events, recurring open houses, and annual events should be submitted in either category 1 or category 2.
Category 4: Best Magazine
This category is not limited by size of institution or budget. This category includes all general and special interest magazines sent to alumni or other external audiences (e.g., research, fundraising, alumni or university magazines). May be on-line or printed or a combination of both. Judges will evaluate content, writing, editing, design and photography, as well as the stated goals of the magazine and how they are met. Please include the annual operating budget, which includes all expenses related to staffing, design, printing and freelance photography and writing. Please also indicate all advertising revenues separately. Submissions without budget figures included will not be judged. HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS ONLY: Please mail 5 copies of the magazine to the CCAE National Office as per the entry process instructions. . . Your 2-page entry form can be uploaded on the website when you register.
Category 5: Best Alumni Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Entries may include one-time activities or initiatives that take place over a period of time. Examples may include alumni strategies, communications, programs, award activities, services, and benefits programs, etc. . . Alumni events should be submitted in Category #1.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals.
Category 6: Best Annual Fund Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Entries may include one-time activities or initiatives that take place over a period of time. Examples may include annual fund strategies, communications, programs, donor recognition activities, etc. Annual Fund/Development events should be submitted in Category #2.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals.
Category 7: Best Website
This category recognizes excellence in the development of institutional websites. Judges will evaluate the overall effectiveness of your institution’s central, program, unit or departmental website with regard to institutional identity; overall effectiveness in communicating information or a message; usability and navigation; consideration of the website’s identified audiences; mobile accessibility; standards-compliant accessibility and markup; and institutionally identified goals and metrics. Innovation, interactivity and design will also be considered. Intranet development, virtual tours, mobile sites and micro-sites, constituent-specific portals, and interactive Web services are also included in this category. Submit the address for the site to be entered as well as the address of your institution’s official home page.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals.
Category 8: Best Community Outreach Initiative
This category includes initiatives that involve your internal and external community members in the life and work of your institution – enhancing the town-and-gown relationship. Examples include local fundraising drives, community literacy programs and student/community volunteer interactions. Judges will look for clear objectives, sound planning and execution and a notable positive increase in the relationship between your institution and the community within which it resides.
Category 9: Best PR/Marketing/Communications Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Entries may include one-time activities or initiatives that take place over a period of time. Examples may include community relations initiatives, communications initiatives for internal or external audiences, crisis/issues management, government relations, or media relations activities demonstrating overall excellence or innovation in methods used to obtain coverage in external media.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals.
Category 10: Best Student Recruitment Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Initiatives may be one-time or on-going. Examples include student recruitment or acceptance packages, recruitment campaigns, booths, etc. Events should be submitted in Category #3.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Initiatives will be evaluated based on the relationship between your activity and the unique characteristics of your institution, level of personal contact, stated goals and how well they were met. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall goals. Include a description of planning and execution and any relevant materials. This category recognizes successful marketing strategies and techniques. Judges will look for an understanding of your institution’s mission, strengths and unique qualities and how well they are communicated to prospective students.
Category 11: Best Development Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Entries may include one-time activities or initiatives that take place over a period of time. Examples may include development strategies, communications, proposals, solicitation and cultivation activities, etc. Annual Fund/Development events should be submitted in Category #2, and Annual Fund initiatives should be submitted in Category #6.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals. Include a description of planning and execution and materials used in the initiative.
Category 12: Best Donor Relations Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Donor events should be entered into Category #2. Entries may include initiatives related to donor recognition, appreciation and stewardship, donor/accountability reporting, customer service or other donor-focused initiatives. Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals.
Category 13: Best Advancement Services Initiative
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Entries may include one-time activities or activities that take place over a period of time. Examples may include best practice in gift/data entry, prospect research, donations processing, receipting, database management, performance management and advancement service functions specific to your institution.
JJudges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, collaboration with other departments/ units, a statement of goals and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals.
Category 14: Best Use of Social Media
This category recognizes how Advancement professionals are using social media strategies and new technologies to develop innovative programs and practices that build constituent relationships with their institutions. Examples may include effective use of publicly available platforms such as blogging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, FourSquare, Flickr, LinkedIn, Tumblr, etc.; and/or the use and development of independent strategies such as online community usage, photo contests, or new implementations. . .
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, measurable success in engaging audiences, evidence of user-generated content, innovative ideas, integration across platforms and with the institution’s other sites and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals. Include a description of planning and execution and include any materials used in the initiative. If you include any social media site account not listed above, please include a short description of the site's functionality and objective. Entries are encouraged to include project analytics to provide evidence of success and growth, wherever possible.
Category 15: Best Fundraising Case Statement & Campaign Materials
This category recognizes excellence in fundraising case statements and the application of those statements to fundraising materials. The case statement and materials are designed to attract support for a major institutional fundraising initiative such as a capital, anniversary or research campaign.
Judges will consider the objectives of your case statement and how well you met them. They will evaluate clarity of fundraising goals, as well as writing, design, structure and photography as they combine to capture the unique qualities of your institution. They will also judge the consistency and clarity of application of your case statement to the materials you present. Your institution’s most current case statement and the associated materials are eligible. Please include a budget for your statement and campaign materials. HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS ONLY: Please mail 5 copies of the materials to the CCAE National Office as per the entry process instructions. . . Your 2-page entry form can be uploaded on the website when you register.
Category 16: Best Institutional Branding
This category recognizes excellence in institutional branding. . . Brands must have been launched in either calendar year 2011 or 2012. Entries must show examples of a minimum of five uses of the brand across the institution; submissions with broad integration across the institution are encouraged rather than specific unit brands. Please describe the process used to develop the brand and the communication process used to implement it. Include details of the brand itself and comment on the brand association positioning and personality. Judges will evaluate entries on the most effective and appropriate use of the brand for the intended audience. Judges will consider design, creativity, stated goals and how well they were met.
Category 17: Best Student Recruitment Viewbook
This category recognizes excellence in recruitment viewbooks, the major promotional piece designed to attract new and primarily first-year students. Judges will evaluate content, writing, design and photography as they combine to capture the unique qualities of your institution. They will also consider stated goals and how well they were met. Viewbooks produced in 2012 are eligible for submission. . . HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS ONLY: Please mail 5 copies of the materials to the CCAE National Office as per the entry process instructions. . . Your 2-page entry form can be uploaded on the website when you register.
Category 18: Best Brochure, Newsletter or Flyer
This category is for the following:
HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS ONLY: Please mail 5 copies of the magazine to the CCAE National Office as per the entry process instructions. . . Your 2-page entry form can be uploaded on the website when you register.
Category 19A: Best Writing – ENGLISH
This category recognizes excellence in reporting and writing for articles published in the 2012 calendar year. Articles may be on any topic, but must have appeared in institutional magazines, newspapers, newsletters or other publications for internal or external audiences. This category includes feature stories, news, editorials or articles written to persuade or clarify complex issues. Judges will consider writing style, organization and clarity, the complexity of the subject, and the ability of the writer to present the material in a creative and compelling manner.
Category 19B: Best Writing – FRENCH
This category recognizes excellence in reporting and writing for articles published in the 2012 calendar year. Articles may be on any topic, but must have appeared in institutional magazines, newspapers, newsletters or other publications for internal or external audiences. This category includes feature stories, news, editorials or articles written to persuade or clarify complex issues. Judges will consider writing style, organization and clarity, the complexity of the subject, and the ability of the writer to present the material in a creative and compelling manner.
Category 20A: Best News Release – ENGLISH
This category recognizes excellence in news release writing. Entries in this category will be judged on writing style, organization, clarity and the ability of the writer to present the material in a creative and compelling manner. Entries will be judged on the quality of the writing, goals and results. Do not include press clippings or transcripts. In the statement of objectives, briefly summarize the response generated in the print and electronic media, including the tone of coverage and use of key messages/quotes. Submit a single news release or a series of up to three closely related releases as they were produced for distribution.
Category 20B: Best News Release – FRENCH
This category recognizes excellence in news release writing. Entries in this category will be judged on writing style, organization, clarity and the ability of the writer to present the material in a creative and compelling manner. Entries will be judged on the quality of the writing, goals and results. Do not include press clippings or transcripts. In the statement of objectives, briefly summarize the response generated in the print and electronic media, including the tone of coverage and use of key messages/quotes.. Submit a single news release or a series of up to three closely related releases as they were produced for distribution.
Category 21: Best Print Ad or Poster
This award is given for advertising achievement and excellence in print. Submissions may be a single ad or poster, or a series of ads or posters promoting a specific event, program or other institutional initiative such as student recruitment, a grand opening, lecture series or institutional image campaign. Ads or posters must have appeared in the 2012 calendar year. Judges will evaluate entries on the most effective and appropriate use of graphics, imagery and text for the intended audience. Judges will consider design, creativity, stated goals and how well they were met. Audio-visual ads should be submitted in Category #25.
Category 22: Best Photograph
This award recognizes the best original photograph to appear in an institutional publication. Black-and-white or colour photography may be entered. Judges will assess composition, technical quality, appropriateness and creativity. Photos must have been shot in 2011 or 2012 and published in 2012. Please include the goals of the photograph and how they were met.
Category 23: Best Institutional Annual Report
This award is based on excellence in concept, graphic design and editorial content in communicating your institution’s sense of accountability to its community and constituencies. Consideration will be given to the extent to which the unique qualities of your institution have been captured, as well as the stated goals of the report and how well you met them. The most recent annual report published by your institution is eligible for entry. HARD COPY SUBMISSIONS ONLY: Please mail 5 copies of the materials to the CCAE National Office as per the entry process instructions. . . Your 2-page entry form can be uploaded on the website when you register.
Category 24: Best New Idea: Creativity on a Shoestring
A perennial favorite, this category recognizes innovative solutions or new and imaginative ideas that are modest in cost and make the work of professionals in alumni relations, development, communications, public affairs or student recruitment offices easier or more effective. Include evidence of implementation, objectives and results achieved. Fully disclose all related costs in a complete budget, both internal and external, and indicate any savings achieved.
Category 25: Best Use of Multi-Media
A wide variety of initiatives are eligible for consideration. Entries may include one-time activities or initiatives that take place over a period of time. Entries may include audio files, video games, webcasts, podcasts, mobile apps, e-mail campaigns, virtual reunions, virtual campus tours or testimonials, photo manipulation, chat rooms, online ad campaigns, videos, slide or multi-media presentations, and films of no more than 30 minutes in length produced for fundraising, student recruitment, news and information, or other general promotional purposes. Judges will evaluate objectives, content, script, photography or videography, soundtrack, editing, as well as how well the institution’s mission is communicated, stated goals and how they were met.
Judges will look for a clear sense of overall goals, evidence of effective planning, innovative ideas, and conclusive evidence of success. Explain how the initiative supports the institution’s overall Advancement goals. Include a description of planning and execution and any materials used in the initiative.
Please join CCAE in thanking the Category Hosts who have volunteered their time to coordinate the judging efforts for the 2013 Prix d’Excellence competition.
Wendy Battram (McMaster University); Karen Bertrand (University of Guelph); Jon Bruhm (Dalhousie University); Ben Chapdelaine (McMaster University); Terry Cockerline (University of Victoria); Ken Cuthbertson (Queen's University); Laura D'Amelio (York University); Laura Escalante (McMaster University); Angela Gilmore (Cambrian College); Katerina Hay (Okanagan College); Tania John (Wilfrid Laurier University); Stacy Kelly (OCAD University); Kendra Lealess (Western University); Adelia Marchese (Humber College); David McBride (Upper Canada College); Bridget McMahon (Wilfrid Laurier University); Sandra McPherson (The Neuro at McGill); Katherine Needham (OCAD University); Erin O'Neil (McMaster University); Susan Rankin (McMaster University); Ryan Rodrigues (Rotmans, University of Toronto); Claudia Russell (McMaster University); Mark Savenkoff (Carleton University); Wendy Schilling (McGill University); Jacqueline Watty (University of Guelph); Lisa Woodcock (University of Guelph)
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