About the SIGUCCS 2008 Communication Awards

Entries are still being accepted. The entry deadline is extended to July 10, 2008. The entry date will not change again for this year's competition.

Each year ACM SIGUCCS sponsors a competition to honor the best publications, websites and promotional material produced by university and college centers. A list of past winners can be seen on the ACM SIGUCCS Website.

The competition recognizes excellence in developing useful and attractive publications and provides SIGUCCS conference participants with an opportunity to review publications that may help them develop or enhance their own work.

Awards for this year's competition will be presented at the ACM SIGUCCS Fall 2008 Conference, in Portland, Oregon from October 19-22, 2008.

The winning entries will be displayed during the conference for perusal by the conference participants.

Please send any questions you may have about this year's competition via this 2008 SIGUCCS Communication Awards information request form.

Categories for the Communication Awards

In each category, the top entry will receive a "Best of Category" award, while other winners will receive an "Award of Excellence." In recognition of the differences in resources available to institutions of varying size, there may be two groups of competitors in a category. Schools with fewer than 4000 students will compete in Group 1 and those with 4000 or more in Group 2.

Category 1: Web-based Services

1a: Computing Services Public Website

A computing organization's website provides users access to a wealth of information and services. In this category, judges will consider a computing organization's entire website, including the information design, standards compliance, and overall presentation. Criteria

1b: Computing Services Internal Website

In this category, judges will consider websites geared toward an institution's own IT employees -- policies, procedures, frequently asked questions, links to related resources, and so on. Criteria

Category 2: Computing Newsletter

2a: Printed Computing Newsletter

A printed newsletter should be eye-catching, informative and compelling enough to make people want to read it. Criteria

2b: Electronic Computing Newsletter

An electronic newsletter, whether presented as a web page, weblog, email or complete online magazine, should provide pertinent and accessible content in an eye-catching format. Criteria

Category 3: How-to Guides and Instructional Materials

3a: Printed How-to Guides

This category includes printed documents that are primarily procedural and provide instructions for accomplishing computing tasks. Criteria

3b: Electronic How-to Guides

This category includes Web documents that are primarily procedural and provide instructions for accomplishing computing tasks. Criteria

3c: Printed Instructional Classroom Materials

Included in this category are printed documents that are primarily used to supplement classroom instruction in using a particular software application, suite or network service. Criteria

3d: Electronic Instructional Classroom Materials

Included in this category is Web-based instruction and on-line training. Delivery of a course or workshop online, e.g., via WebCT, Blackboard, Angel, Sakai, other course delivery methods, or software. Criteria

Category 4: Quick Reference Guides

4a: Printed Quick Reference Guides

Universities are employing a variety of printed formats to provide quick reference guides to the services and resources for their computing customers. These guides provide a brief format for the audience to learn "the basics" of a service, or to raise awareness of the service's presence. Quick reference guides are brief, usually only a few pages or shorter, and include formats such as pamphlets, flyers, postcards, bookmarks, and more. Criteria

Category 5: Promotional Materials

5a: General Service Promotional Materials

Many institutions are publishing information about special projects or services. One function of these publications is to increase the visibility of computing projects and services in their home institution. Example services might include: Training offerings or catalog, departmental support lab, consulting services, support center, and so on. Criteria

5b: Promotional Video/Audio

Included in this category are promotional videos, audio clips, streaming media, podcasts, and so on. Criteria

5c: Student Created Promotional Materials

Included in this category are promotional materials designed by students. Criteria

5d: General Service Campaign Materials

Many institutions are creating entire campaigns to promote special events, projects and services, such as security awareness, various IT services for an institution, new student orientation, and so on. Entries in this category will consist of multiple items, and some items may involve the use of different media. Criteria

Category 6: Software Distribution

6a: Software Distribution Physical Media

This category is for CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs that contain software and instructions distributed by schools to their students, faculty and staff. Criteria

6b: Software Distribution Electronic Media

This category is for websites that contain software and instructions distributed by schools to their students, faculty and staff. Criteria

Guidelines and Deadline

Qualifications

Your entry must be developed by staff affiliated with your institution.

Institutions may enter up to three entries in each category. An institution may not enter a category judged by one of its staff or faculty members.

Prize winners

The "Best of Category" award winners will be asked to present their materials at the conference Poster session.

The "Best of Category" winners in each category will be asked to judge the Communication Awards next year.

All awardees will be invited to the Awards Breakfast during the conference, where the official presentation of the awards will take place.

Entry Deadline

All entries must be received by July 10, 2008.