Awards and Commendations Policy -- Appendix I

The NCTE Executive Committee has formulated a policy on awards and commendations given by the Council's various groups.  While the Executive Committee encourages recognition of excellence, it wishes to guard against proliferation and duplication of awards.  Care must be taken not to create awards with rules or other specifications that lack feasibility or are in conflict with an official Council policy or position.  Both staff and Executive Committee liaisons are glad to offer further suggestions and advice about awards and commendations.

An "award" is defined as an activity in which (a) there is some judgment of quality and (b) there are some potential recipients who ultimately do not receive the recognition involved.  "Commendation" is defined here as acknowledgment of service or excellence in which condition (b) does not apply.  For example, a plaque or citation recognizing the services of a retiring editor or officer would be a commendation rather than an award, since the person involved is not being considered in relation to other potential recipients.  Similarly, a letter congratulating PBS on an exceptionally good television series would be a commendation because it is not part of a programmatic review of potential awardees.

1. Any award that involves the use of NCTE's name must be submitted for approval to the NCTE Executive Committee.  A description of the award, criteria for selection of the awardee, plans for disseminating any announcements about the award, time and occasion for making the award presentation, and other pertinent information should be submitted in time for the Executive Committee meeting that takes place at least three months before the projected announcement of the award.  "Use of NCTE's name" refers to use on any of the following:  award announcement materials, entry rules and blanks, award title, and the award itself.
   
   
2. The granting of an established award (including the substance, selection procedure, criteria, and other elements) is reviewed every three years by the NCTE Executive Committee.  A written report by the leader of the group sponsoring the award will be submitted to the Executive Committee not later than January 10 of the year in which the review is to occur.
   
   
3. Any subgroup of the Council might create its own commendations without consulting or informing the Executive Committee as long as there is no statement of conferment by the national organization.  Use of NCTE's stationery by authorized groups is permissible for commendations.
   
   
4. Time for presentation of either awards or commendations at convention events or other Council functions will be granted only with the consent of the governing body responsible for that function.  (For example, awards at convention section luncheons or meetings require early approval of section committees.)  Procedures and schedules for processing requests for convention time will be created by each governing body.  Time might be granted for an event at a single convention or for that event at several successive conventions, as specified by the governing group.