Should universities amplify their student recognition tactics?

31 Oct 2019

Positive encouragement and student recognition are just as important as the quality of academic courses at university.

Without supportive lecturers and faculty members spurring students on, there would be a significant drop in motivation to get the modules completed.

Fundamental to academic institutions and organisations, constructive feedback keeps the work flowing and improvements increasing.

But are universities doing enough to raise the levels of student recognition, or are they struggling to keep track with student welfare and progression?

Are universities doing enough to recognise students’ achievements and progression? Source: Shutterstock

Student award days

Some universities around the world host award days to showcase students who have demonstrated integrity, innovation, social justice, responsible stewardship, collaborative work and successful academic projects.

Aside from graduation days, it’s a motivational awareness event that can be integrated into annual events.

For instance, Northwestern University in the US hosts the Wildcat Impact Awards.

“Each quarter, six winners are selected to have their photo and accomplishments displayed on a banner in the Norris University Center along with an invitation to attend the end of the year Wildcat Excellence Awards,” the university notes on its award page.

Allowing anyone to nominate as many students and groups as they wish, lecturers can nominate students, students can nominate fellow students and societies can nominate student members.

Even if they don’t win a prize or even make the final cut, a nomination is still a form of positive recognition and respect for the progress students are making at university.

Letters of recognition

Another tactic universities may want to take on is encouraging staff to write letters of recognition.

Asking department heads to write appraising letters to students or student staff members for their research and contributions to departmental success is a successful form of flattery.

Not only will the recipients of these letters feel inspired to carry on with their work, but they’ll also be recognised for the impact they have on the university, securing a lifelong alliance between the learner and their academic institution.

Letters won’t take long for university staff to write, and their words can make a definitive difference to a student’s overall success.

Staff appreciation events

Recognition works both ways.

If students positively recognise the time and effort that goes into their professor’s lectures or the career centre’s CV workshops, university staff will also feel motivated to carry on driving learners towards a successful graduation.

By hosting staff appreciation events, universities give students a chance to demonstrate their respect and appreciation for the faculty’s hard work.

Opening a transaction of recognition, from both sides, it creates a sense of togetherness on campus and amplifies student-teacher interaction.

Are you receiving adequate recognition at university? Source: Shutterstock

By understanding the value of recognition and the importance of feedback, students will also know what to expect from future workplaces.

Avoiding the concerning statistics taken from the latest Office Vibe report regarding employee engagement – such as the fact that 63 percent of employees feel like they don’t get enough praise and 32 percebt of employees have to wait more than three months to get feedback from their manager – students may swerve past organisations that don’t enforce employee recognition tactics.

And if constructive feedback starts at university, then learners will always strive to make improvements and become the best version of themselves.

If student recognition falters and there isn’t enough appreciation on campus, learners may feel less motivated to attend their university, to recommend their university and to graduate from their university.