Distinguished Alumni Award

Approving Authority:	Council
Establishment Date:	11 August 2005
Date Last Amendment:	n/a
Nature of Amendment:	n/a
Date Last Reviewed:	n/a
Publication Reference:	n/a
Contact Officer:	Head, Alumni and Community Relations

Preamble

To recognise the significant contributions made by Flinders University graduates, and to celebrate the University's 40th Anniversary, the Distinguished Alumni Award has been established by Council on the recommendation of the Flinders University Alumni Association Committee.

Selection Criteria

1.

The Distinguished Alumni Award will recognise graduates who have made a significant contrbution: to Flinders University and/or the Alumni Association; or to the Community, the State, the nation or internationally; or in their chosen field.

2.

The Awards Subcommittee of the Alumni Association Committee may take account of a significant contribution in one or more of the following areas: contributions which have benefited the community, the State or nation; humanitarian services and contributions to society; the professional achievements of a nominee; services to the University (but such service should not be conclusive or mandatory as a selection criterion); a significant role in a single incident or activity in one of the areas identified above.

Eligibility

3.	A nominee must be a graduate of the University.
4.	A Distinguished Alumni Award will not normally be awarded to a recipient of a Convocation Medal, or a person who would more appropriately be considered for such an award, or a current office bearer of the Alumni Association.
5.	A person may hold only one Distinguished Alumni Award.

Nominations

6.	Any member of staff, former members of staff, students, former students and other persons who have had a sidgnificant involvement with the University may nominate an eligible person for a Distinguished Alumni Award. A graduate of the University may nominate themselves for the Award. Posthumous nominations will be considered.
7.	The nomination must be made on the prescribed form, but may include such letters or other material of support as the nominator might provide.
8.	With the exception of the inaugural year, nominations will close on 30 April each year. In cases determined to be exceptional by the Alumni Association Committee, nominations for an Award may be considered on an individual basis outside of the scheduled timeframe.
9.	Nominations will be submitted in confidence to the Head, Alumni and Community Relations. The nomination will be kept confidential between the nominator and the Alumni Association until the selection process has been completed.

Selection

10.	The Alumni Association Committee will appoint an Awards Subcommittee to consider the nominations.
11.	The Awards Subcommittee will recommend to the Alumni Association Committee, by 1 August each year, the names of up to 10 nominees to receive Awards. In the inaugural year, or in other exceptional cases, the Awards Subcommittee may recommend additional nominees to receive Awards.
12	Recommendations must be supported by not less than two thirds of the Alumni Association Committee members present at the meeting at which they are considered.
13.	Once the selection process has been completed, the Head, Alumni and Community Relations will advise each successful nominee of the Award, and will invite each person to accept the Award. In the case of posthumous nominations, the Head, Alumni and Community Relations will advise the executor and/or the immediate family of the nominee as appropriate.
14.	In the event of a nominee declining to accept the Distinguished Alumni Award when offered the matter will remain confidential. The Alumni Association Committee may invite the Awards Subcommittee to submit a further recommendation for that year.

Presentation of Awards

15.	The Distinguished Alumni Award will be presented each year at an appropriate University function as agreed by the Alumni Association Committee, the Vice-Chancellor and Chancellor.
16.	The Award will be presented jointly by the Chancellor of the University and the President of the Alumni Association.
17.	The Distinguished Alumni Award will be in a form determined by the Alumni Association Committee and will include the recipient's name and an appropriate citation.
18.	If a recipient if unable to attend a function to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award in person by virtue of disability or by reason of distance, or for any other reason, the Award shall be presented in absentia or in any other manner determined by the Alumni Association Committee.