The "Of the Month" Award or OTM is a service of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) intended to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals, groups, and programs of on-campus living communities of colleges and universities nation-wide. Any person affiliated with the on-campus living community may submit or be nominated for an OTM at go.unl.edu/nrhhotms. Every OTM should be month-specific and illustrate how the nominee went above and beyond expectations during the month of nomination. Campus winners are selected each month by the UNL Scarlet and Cream Chapter of NRHH and are submitted to the regional level, where they may be considered for regional and national recognition.
OTMs are grouped into three categories: individual, group, or program. Individual and group OTMs are a maximum of 600 words and should describe the outstanding accomplishments of an individual or group within that month of submission. Program OTMs allow for various types of programs on campus and can be nominated during the month in which it occurred. Program OTMs are broken down into several sections with directive questions about the program with individual word maximums.
Have you recognized someone lately? If not, OTMs are the perfect way to do just that! Listed below are the different types of OTMs that someone or something can be nominated for along with their criteria.
Any individual who directly advises a housing-related student organization and has made outstanding contributions to the organization or its officers and members. The individual may be the main advisor or the graduate advisor. Examples include, but are not limited to: RHA Advisor, NRHH Advisor, Area Council Advisor, Hall Council Advisor, Resident Assistant Advisory Board, Etc. The focus of the Advisor OTM should be based on the advisory role of the person rather then their professional role. Personal examples are often the best way to express the intangible contributions of an advisor. The nomination should display how the advisor was instrumental in helping the leaders they work with grow, learn, and develop. Please be sure to include the nominator's relationship to the nominee.
Any student employee within a housing related desk assistant/attendant position that has worked to create a positive experience for the residential community. The OTM should focus primarily on the nominee’s accomplishments related to that position, and should involve more than simply satisfying the position’s requirements.
Any individual serving as an officer of a housing-related student organization. Examples include RHA, NRHH, or a local hall/complex government. If the person serves in other roles on campus, the nomination should primarily focus on the contributions they have made in the role for which they are being nominated. The OTM should focus on the individual’s work within and related to that role, and should illustrate how he/she has gone beyond the basic requirements of that position.
Any student who is within their first year of being at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln (freshman, transfer student, non-traditional, etc.) who excel in adapting to a new environment within their residence hall, takes an active role in their community, and positively impacts those around them. Submissions in this category may emphasize academics, leadership, involvement, and contributions to community, floor, hall, residence life organizations, etc. Individuals that would be eligible for nomination in any other category are ineligible for nomination in the First Year Student category.
Any faculty/staff outside of housing and residence life who aid students in their academics and/or personal affairs. This category is intended to recognize institutional faculty or staff who have made a contribution to the residence life community both in and out of the classroom. Examples include, but are not limited to: Professors, Instructors, Teaching Assistants, Counselors, Other Academic Affairs Staff, Custodial, Maintenance Staff, Public Safety Officers, Dining Service Staff, Health Services, etc.
Any housing or residence life staff member who aid residents within the housing campus community. This category is intended to recognize the staff who are not eligible for the advisor or student categories category and who have made contributions to the residence life community in the month of nomination. Examples include, but are not limited to: Hall Directors, Graduate Assistants in Residence Life, Directors of Residential Life, Area Coordinators, Residential Life Office Secretaries, etc.
Any student serving as a Resident Assistant or Senior Resident Assistant that has contributed to their residents and left positive impacts within their community. The OTM should focus primarily on the nominee’s accomplishments within the RA role and ways in which they go above and beyond their general position requirements to support residents in the communities/hall in which they work or any residence life organizations during the month of nomination.
Any student in the second year or after at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln who have made outstanding contributions to the residence halls during the month of nomination. Nominees could include, but are not limited to students who have made a contribution to their floor, hall, or residence life organization through leadership, motivation, programming, volunteering and/or being a role model for other residents during the month of nomination. Please note that first year students, Executive board members, and staff and not eligible for this category.
Any individual within a housing or residence life related student staff position that has worked to create a positive experience for the residential community. This category is intended to recognize student staff who have made outstanding contributions to the residence life community in the month of nomination. Nominees should have gone above and beyond the duties as outlined in their job description, and the OTM should focus on the nominee's accomplishments within the student staff role, but may also include other roles or responsibilities taken on during the month of nomination. Desk assistants, resident assistants, senior resident assistants, and executive board members are not eligible for this category. Examples for this category include student maintenance/custodian assistants, marketing assistants, residence hall safety/patrol workers, or learning community mentors.
Any organization that has actively contributed to the student leadership, recognition, or other aspects of residence life during the month of nomination. Emphasis should be placed on the successes of the organization as a whole, not just a few members and should detail how they have helped the campus in general and the residence life community. Examples include hall governments, advisory councils, activities boards, NRHH chapters, and any organizations outside of housing or residential life that positively impact resident students.
Any residential community, such as wings, halls, floor, or complexes that have come together in unique ways to establish positive connections or overcome unique obstacles. This award should emphasize what this community has done and how it has supported others (both within and outside their community). Student organization groups are not eligible for the category. The submissions should illustrate what brings this group of individuals together and how they worked as a group to accomplish any goals during the month of nomination.
Any active event focused primarily around serving individuals in the campus or outside communities. This program should be hosted in part or partner with an individual or group connected to the residence halls. Submissions should include information on the premise of the service project, who it benefited, how the project had an impact on the residential community, what makes the program unique, and how residential students took an active role within the program.
Any active event focused primarily around diversity and inclusion serving residents on campus. This program should be hosted in part or partner with an individual or group connected to the residence halls. Submissions should include information on the goals of the program and how they were accomplished, how the program served to promote diversity, understanding, and inclusivity, what made the program unique, and any lasting effects on residents living on campus.
Any active event of an educational nature focused primarily around offering information to residents on specific topics not covered by other OTM program categories. This program should be hosted in part or partner with an individual or group connected to the residence halls. Submissions should include how the program educated students, how the needs of the target community were met, what the goals of the program were and how they were accomplished, and what makes the program unique.
Any passive event focused on providing information or engaging residential communities within the residence halls. This new OTM recognizes exceptional passive programs and bulletin boards. Submissions should include how the program engaged or educated students, how the needs of the target community were met, what the goals of the program were and how they were accomplished, and what makes the program unique. Passive programs typically include bulletin boards, poster campaigns, or other unmanned interactive setups. All passive programs are only eligible for the passive category.
Any active event focused primarily around helping residents build connections within the residence halls. This program should be hosted in part or partner with an individual or group connected to the residence halls. Submissions should include a detailed purpose of the program, how the program encouraged residents to interact with one another, what made the program unique, and how the program could be adapted to other campuses.
The Spotlight category serves to recognize the efforts of individuals or groups that do not fall into any other OTM categories. The nominee cannot be an advisor, executive board member, student, student staff, or program. Possible nominees could be food service personnel, night security staff, or janitorial staff. Please include how this individual or group has assisted residents, accomplished goals, or contributed to the wellbeing a residential community.