PURPOSE 

The NASUP Exemplary School-University Partnership Award recognizes distinctive School-University Partnerships (SUPs) for their ongoing contributions to the mission and vision of the National Association for School and University Partnerships.

NASUP acknowledges that exemplary achievement takes place in large, multi-institutional partnerships as well as in single-site partnerships between P-12 schools and universities; in well-funded and in budget-challenged partnerships; in long-standing collaborations as well as in recently established partnerships. 

ELIGIBILITY 

Applications for the award must include a formal partnership of at least one P-12 school and an institution of higher education.  Applications may feature a multi-site SUP network or may highlight a single school and its collaboration with a college/university. Applications for the award are restricted to such relationships that support the mission and vision of NASUP.  Applications must include participation by one or more NASUP members who have had their partnership work documented through publication in one of the NASUP publications and/or by presenting at the NASUP Annual Conference within four years prior to the application deadline.  Past recipients of the award are not eligible to apply again until at least four years have elapsed, although separate branches of a university’s SUP network may apply without restriction.

DEADLINE 

All nominations and supporting materials must be submitted electronically to NASUP Awards committee using this link no later than 11:59 PM PST on December 5, 2025.

APPLICATION MATERIALS

The application should be 1 document that should include the following; 

1. A cover sheet section of no more than 2 single-spaced pages that includes:
• the name, title, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address for two individuals serving as the Primary Contacts for the partnership (one from P-12 school/district context, one from a university context);
• the names and positions of all individuals who contributed to the writing and/or information gathering as part of the application;
• the names of all members of the partnership who are current NASUP members;
• a representative list of collaborative presentations or publications on SUP-related topics involving P-12 and higher education members of the partnership in the past four years.
• NOTE: The Awards Committee acknowledges that funding, partnership size and geography may affect the number of individuals who are in a position to join NASUP or attend its National Conference. Appropriate consideration will be given to all worthy applications regardless of funding, size or geography.  Similarly, the Committee recognizes that important SUP-related presentations and publications may be made in other settings and journals.
  [The cover sheet section does not count toward the 5-page narrative described below.]
2.  A well-written narrative of no more than 6 single-spaced pages (12 pt. font) that highlights the impact of the SUP on the contexts. The narrative should explicitly reference the NASUP 9 Essentials and must include the following:

• • A concise description of the partnership setting, its component institutions, and the key leadership roles played by P-12 and university-based participants (1-2 pages);
  • A concise description describing the impact of the SUP on any of the following:
    • The broader mission/goals of the partnership with a focus on how the mission is supported by both school-based and university-based participants; 
    • Student achievement of P-12 students;
    • Clinical practice and the preparation of future teachers, school administrators, and/or other school personnel; and/or
    • The development and support of current practicing teachers or school leaders;
  • A brief description of how resources are shared and how participants are recognized and rewarded for their contributions across institutional settings
  • NOTE:  Reviewers will not open embedded links.

3. Appendices that do not count towards the page limit: 

• • A copy of the partnership mission and/or vision statement;
  • A copy of the partnership’s written articulation agreement
  • (Optional) Up to two letters of support (2 single-spaced pages each) from university-based or school/district-based leaders.

SELECTION CRITERIA 

Selection for the award will be based on the Second Edition of the NASUP Nine Essentials. (The full statement can be found here.)

The NASUP Nine Essentials include:  

• Essential 1: a comprehensive mission that is broader in its outreach and scope than the mission of any partner and that furthers the education profession and its responsibility to advance equity within schools and, by potential extension, the broader community;
• Essential 2: a school-university culture committed to the preparation of future educators that embraces their active engagement in the school community;
• Essential 3: ongoing and reciprocal professional development for all participants guided by need;
• Essential 4: a shared commitment to innovative and reflective practice by all participants;
• Essential 5: engagement in and public sharing of the results of deliberate investigations of practice by respective participants;
• Essential 6: an articulation agreement developed by the respective participants delineating the roles and responsibilities of all involved;
• Essential 7: a structure that allows all participants a forum for ongoing governance, reflection, and collaboration;
• Essential 8: work by college/university faculty and P-12 faculty in formal roles across institutional settings; and
• Essential 9: dedicated and shared resources and formal rewards and recognition structures.

SELECTION PROCESS 

The NASUP Awards Committee, consisting of individuals with representation from the P-12 and college/university communities, will recommend the recipient(s) of the award to the NASUP Leadership Team in December, 2025. Upon approval of the Leadership Team, the recipient(s) will be notified immediately in order to encourage representation at the awards ceremony of the annual conference.

PRESENTATION OF AWARD 

A co-chair of the NASUP Awards Committee will present the award to the winner at the annual conference.

PUBLICITY 

The award shall be publicized in the publications of the NASUP, on its website, and in other appropriate NASUP venues. The primary contact persons for the partnership will receive a formal press release to use for publicizing the award. Award winners are also strongly encouraged to share about their partnership in NASUP journals.