What is SEOTY?
Each spring, NSEA coordinates a selection process and chooses
the National Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) to recognize
the outstanding contributions and achievements of students who
work while attending college.
The process begins in the four regions and only members of
NSEA or one of NSEA's regional affiliates - WASEA, MASEA,
SASEA, and NEASEA - may nominate their student workers.
From the four regional winners, NSEA chooses a National Student
Employee of the Year. The award winner receives a $1,000 cash
award! The NSEA President or a designated representative from
the NSEA Board will visit the national winner's campus to present
the award.
Eligibility
Each region sets its own eligibility criteria for student nominees,
which generally call for some minimum length of employment,
possibly a minimum GPA, and possibly a minimum number of hours
per week the student must be working. Generally student workers
may be classified as "regular Work-Study", institutional
hourly wage, graduate assistants, or even Co-op students to
be nominated.
Attention Regions
Click on the links below for examples of past national Student
Employee of the Year submissions. This may be helpful to you
in establishing your regional criteria and selection process.
2014 Timetable
| December 2, 2013 |
Regional Coordinators distribute announcement and application materials to their members and NSEA members in their region. |
 |
| February 17, 2014 |
SEOTY nominations are due to the campus Student Employment office. |
|
| March 3, 2014 |
Notification of campus winners is due to the Regional Chair. |
|
| March 17, 2014 |
Regional Coordinators submit the regional winners to the NSEA VP of Administrative Services. |
|
| March 31 – April 4, 2014 |
National Student Employee of the Year is selected and winner's school notified by NSEA President. |
|
| April 13 - 19, 2014 |
National Student Employment Week observed.
National SEOTY winner announced and runner-up finalists notified.
National SEOTY award is presented at winner's campus. |
- Suggestions
- Call for nominations - publicize the competition widely,
put it in your campus newspaper, send flyers to all departments, announce
on your campus homepage and any departmental listserv.
- Selection committee - be certain it's more than
just faculty and administrators. Include clerical staff and one or
two students (undergrad or grad). The committee should total an odd
number to avoid ties when voting (five, seven, or nine members is recommended).
- Promote the competition by posting pictures of
nominees around campus as they are received, put articles in campus
paper, on homepage, and listserv.
- Selection criteria - have some mechanism to
consider all students equally and not give too much consideration to
complex job descriptions or longevity of service.
- Award presentation - have a meal function with top
administrators, students' families, and students' supervisors, even local
and state legislators present. Allow time for pictures of all nominees
with school president (or whoever is presenting). Be sure to invite media
(print and broadcast) to cover the event. Have state government issue
a proclamation.
- Prizes - arrange for cash scholarship, tuition waiver, or
bookstore certificate for winner. Have trophies, plaques, or certificates
for all nominees.
- Hold your recognition event during National Student Employment Week.
