Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award

The Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award is Ohio State Graduate School’s recognition of innovative wellness workshop(s), event(s), or programming that had a significant positive impact on graduate students.

General Information 

Ohio State University has almost 300 graduate programs across various fields, which includes 102 doctoral programs and 127 master’s programs. Graduate Coordinators work in these programs and are part of Ohio State University’s culture of care. They understand that high quality academic education must be accompanied by robust wellness initiatives. They understand the importance of removing barriers for graduate and/or professional students and instead creating access and support, building community, to combat stress and loneliness, to improve health, to foster resilience, leading to better motivation, perseverance, retention and graduation. The Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award was developed to recognize Graduate Coordinators who developed a workshop, event, or programming that had a significant positive impact on graduate students’ wellness at Ohio State University.

This is a new award for the Graduate School. Graduate Coordinators will be selected by the Graduate School and awarded $1000 each, and a certificate in recognition of their dedication and commitment to being part of the culture of care and supporting graduate students’ wellness. The Graduate School encourages nominations from graduate students, but anyone can nominate a Graduate Coordinator. Self-nominations are also accepted. 

All nominations should be made to the Graduate School. The nomination packet must include the following:

• A nomination letter that includes a brief bio about the coordinator, an explanation of the wellness program and its relationship to the Ten Dimensions of Wellness, and the program impact to graduate students in the program
• A support letter from the Graduate Studies Chair
• A support letter from a graduate student(s) or graduate faculty member who is also familiar with the wellness program and its impact on graduate students in the program

Nomination Information

2026 Nomination Link

Nominations open January 15, 2026

Nominations close March 10, 2026

Format Specifications

The nomination letter and support letters must conform to the following format requirements:

• Each letter must be 1-2 pages in length (2 pages max)
• 8.5″ × 11″
• 1″ margins (all sides)
• Single- or double-spaced (for body)
• 10–12-point Arial, Times New Roman, or suitable text font (for body)

Award Selection Committee

An award selection committee, comprised of faculty and graduate students invited by the Assistant Dean of Graduate Development and Engagement, will select three finalists annually, one in each of the following areas:

• Arts and Sciences Graduate Studies
• Professional College Graduate Studies (BUS/EHE/ENG/FAES/JGC/SWK)
• Health Sciences Graduate Studies (DEN/MED/NUR/OPT/PBH/PHR/VMF)

Each college is encouraged to reach out to graduate students and graduate coordinators to make them aware of the opportunity of the annual Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award.

Nominees will be electronically notified of their nomination. All questions should be sent via E-mail to Dr. Karin Jordan, Assistant Dean of Graduate Development and Engagement at jordan.1193@osu.edu

IMPORTANT: A previous Graduate Coordinator-Wellness Program of the Year Award winner will not be eligible for this award for the next 2 years, to give other Graduate Coordinators the opportunity to be recognized for their graduate student wellness programming.

Selection Criteria

The Graduate School understands that wellness programing might look different from one graduate program to another, as well as from one college to another. Wellness programing might be student or student group specific, to meet their wellness needs. Therefore, the Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award committee will look closely at the faculty program description and impact.

The Graduate School Graduate Coordinator Wellness Program of the Year Award Selection Committee also looks closely at how graduate students reported that they benefitted from the wellness programing. Support letters from graduate studies chairs and another student or a graduate faculty member familiar with the graduate student wellness program will provide more information about the program impact to help foster graduate and professional student wellness and resiliency.

The three annual Graduate Coordinator Award recipients will be recognized with a certificate and $1000. In addition, award winners will be invited to attend the Graduates School’s Annual Award ceremony and be recognized at the event.