CAUCE Announces Awards Refresh

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Excellence Awards. These awards aim to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in the field of continuing education across Canada. The Excellence Awards will honor individuals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional collaboration, innovation, agility and resilience that has positively impacted lifelong learners.

“Through discussions with members and the executive committee, we identified a shared vision to make our awards process more inclusive, equitable, and representative of our diverse community. Additionally, we recognized the need to streamline the workload and directives of the selection committees,” Rod Lastra, University of Manitoba.

In June 2024, a small working group consisting of Rod Lastra, University of Manitoba (chair), Ewa Wasniewski (University of Calgary), Kristopher Noseworthy, (University of St. Boniface) and Karen Hamilton (McMaster University), Jo-Anne Clarke (University of Victoria) and Coral Sawchyn (CAUCE Secretariat) came together with a goal of launching a new program in December 2024. Several key goals were successfully achieved to enhance the awards process. The award categories were reviewed and adjusted to better align with current continuing education programming and marketing efforts. The selection process was streamlined and diversified, ensuring a transparent and unbiased approach with diverse representation. Efforts to reduce duplication led to the exploration of consolidating awards committees, while recognition was expanded to include affiliate member awards participation. Additionally, plans to enhance communication strategies, leveraging the awards to highlight significant achievements in programming and marketing, are underway.

The new awards are as follows:

Program excellence awards

The program excellence award recognizes exceptional credit and non-credit programs in the field of continuing education. We celebrate programs that show exceptional quality, innovation, and impact on learners. This award recognizes programs that effectively meet the needs of diverse lifelong learners, fostering both personal and professional development. Programs eligible for this award should demonstrate best practices in curriculum design, delivery, and assessment.

Marketing excellence awards

The marketing excellence award recognizes outstanding achievements in marketing within the field of continuing education, to celebrate innovative and effective marketing strategies that have successfully promoted continuing education institutions, units and/or programs, increased enrolment, and enhanced the reputation.

“Revising our CAUCE Excellence Awards is an opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of the committees and members who drive innovation and success within their institutions and communities. This new structure ensures a more equitable focus on both Programming and Marketing, highlighting the collective impact of our programs in strengthening and uplifting our communities. I look forward to celebrating the achievements of our award recipients this May at Brock University during the 2025 CAUCE Conference,” said Ewa Wasniewski, University of Calgary.

Applications are now open, and we encourage all members, institutional and affiliate, to participate and showcase their exemplary work. Each year, we will honor outstanding achievements with three awards for each of the Program awards of excellence and the Marketing awards of excellence: Gold, Silver, and Bronze, recognizing exceptional contributions at every level. At the discretion of the Excellence Awards Committee an honorable mention may be awarded. Winners will be celebrated for their contributions to advancing lifelong learning on May 28, 2025, at our annual conference.

To learn more about the new award categories and application process, visit our website.