Indigenous/Decolonization Scholarship and Engagement Award

The ASHE Indigenous/Decolonization Scholarship and Engagement Award will be presented to an ASHE member(s) in recognition of scholarship and engagement that significantly contributes to the field of higher education through the lens of Indigenous knowledges, methodologies, and perspectives. This award specifically honors work that centers Indigenous self-determination, sovereignty, and the unique political status of Indigenous Nations, while also acknowledging and addressing the historical and ongoing erasure and harm perpetrated by higher education institutions.

Nomination Evaluation Criteria

When reviewing nominations, the awards committee will make decisions based on the following preferred and demonstrated attributes:

1. A body of scholarly work that informs how the study of higher education conceptualizes Indigenization and decolonization 
2. A body of scholarly work that employs Indigenous and/or critical research methodologies and epistemologies
3. Demonstrates diverse ways in which scholarly work contributes to the following:
   1. Understanding Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary issues
   2. Examination of colonial structures and power dynamics
   3. Contributes to Indigenization and decolonization efforts within higher education
   4. Exhibits ethical and respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge and communities
4. Supports Indigenizing and decolonizing efforts through community engagement and reciprocity within ASHE
5. Overall contributions support sovereignty, self-determination, and/or the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Timeline

• Early May: Awards Nominations Open
• June 30, 2025, 12:00pm Mountain/Denver Time: Awards Nominations close
• July-September: Committee review of nominations
• Late September: Notification to nominators of committee decisions
• Mid-October: Association-wide announcement of recipients
• November: Awards Ceremony during ASHE 2025 Annual Conference

Due to the number of submissions and the review process, no late submissions will be accepted; as such, nominators are encouraged to submit their nominations well in advance of this deadline. 

Nomination Requirements

To submit a nomination you will need:

• Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Coordinating Nominator

• Name, Title, Position, Institution, Email, and Phone Number of Nominee

• A nomination statement up to 750 words that demonstrates the nominee's match to the award evaluation criteria. This should not be a nomination or support letter, but a summary of the nominee's qualifications for this specific award.

• 2-3 letters of support. For upload into the nomination form, these should be combined into one document, preferably a pdf.

• The nominee's CV.

Due to the increased number of nominations received in recent years, each nominee will be limited to one nomination. In the event multiple nominations are submitted, the committee chair will notify the coordinating nominators requesting they consolidate their nominations.

The coordinating nominator, as well as the award nominee(s) (and subsequently recipient(s)), must be current members of ASHE.

Questions about the award process can be sent to awards@ashe.ws.