Breaking through Barriers Award FAQ

What are the Breaking through Barriers Awards?
The Breaking through Barriers Awards recognizes mission-based state/branch program excellence and showcases those programs as models for other states/branches. Applications are being accepted until February 15, 2011. Three exemplary state/branch programs will be selected as Breaking through Barriers Awards winners. Two additional groups will be named as finalists and honorable mentions.

What is the purpose of the Breaking through Barriers Awards?
The awards are meant to encourage and recognize high-quality mission-based state/branch programming that breaks through barriers for women and girls. They are also intended to give visibility to effective, replicable programs, encourage programming creativity, and reward excellence.

How are these awards different from past awards programs?
The Breaking through Barriers Awards focuses specifically on effective mission-based programming at the state and branch levels, as distinguished from membership numbers or fundraising goals of states/branches. Of course, it is assumed that effective programming will encourage member retention and attract new members, and likewise will reinforce fundraising, but the emphasis of these awards is on mission- based programming quality, community impact, participant satisfaction, and replicability. The Five Star Awards Program and 21st Century Awards Program are no longer run by the AAUW national office.

What are the criteria for selection?
Award-winning programs will

• Represent our shared AAUW mission and value promise as described by one or more of the six Breaking through Barriers categories
  1. Advocates for women's career, financial, and life choices
  2. Champions equitable compensation and treatment
  3. Promotes challenging careers as a means to improved quality of life
  4. Supports accessible, affordable, high-quality education for all women and girls
  5. Fosters networks that help women succeed
  6. Develops and motivates leaders
• Demonstrate innovation and creativity in addressing the educational and economic barriers to women and girls and/or be an effective implementation or adaptation of a model AAUW program.
• Include outcome measures that predict/reflect community-based impact and demonstrate potential for sustainable change that breaks through barriers for women and girls.
• Serve as a replicable model for other branches across the country. (Finalists will be offered the opportunity to create their own AAUW Program in a Box to be posted on the AAUW website.)
• Carry the AAUW program brand. Other community organizations may play a role, but AAUW must be identified as a leader of the program.

How many recipients will there be for these awards?
There will be three top award recipients, up to 20 finalists, and a yet-to-be-determined number of honorable mentions.

When will the award recipients be announced?
The finalists and honorable mentions will be announced by March 15, 2011. The top three awardees, chosen from among the finalists, will be announced during the AAUW National Convention, June 16–19, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

What do the Breaking through Barriers Awards recipients receive as recognition?
The Breaking through Barriers Awards recipients will receive recognition on the AAUW website, in the AAUW Annual Report, in AAUW Outlook, in the AAUW Dialog, on the AAUW Facebook page, and on the AAUW Twitter feed. The finalists and honorable mentions will be recognized in the 2011 AAUW National Convention program book. A certain number of members attending convention from states/branches that are among the finalists will receive discounts on their registration. The finalists will also be featured in a special event designed to encourage convention attendees to meet these state/branch members and learn about their successful programs. (This event will replace the Taste of Success that has been featured at previous conventions.)
The top three award recipients chosen from among the finalists will be announced during a special ceremony at the 2011 AAUW National Convention. These top three states/branches will each receive a $3,000 cash prize to encourage further development of their mission-based programming.

How often will the Breaking through Barriers Awards be given out?
The awards will be given out every other year, in conjunction with the AAUW National Convention. The next AAUW National Convention is June 16–19, 2011.

How does my state/branch apply for an award?
Any state/branch can apply for an award by completing the online application. No mailed or faxed applications will be accepted.

Why should my state/branch apply for an award?
States/branches are urged to apply for a Breaking through Barriers Award to receive recognition for their effective mission-based programming and to support the replication of exemplary programs by states/branches nationwide.

Are programs that have already been implemented eligible for an award?
While it is not necessary for a state/branch to apply with a new program, it must apply with a program that has been implemented at the state/branch level between July 1, 2009, and February 15, 2011. Creative implementation and effectiveness are two elements that help to establish programming excellence.

What is the decision-making process for the award applications?
The state/branch applications will be reviewed by a selection panel, with recommendations submitted to the AAUW board for approval.

Who is on the selection panel?
The selection panel is composed of the Branch Program Resources Task Force and select members of the board and staff.

Does this affect current state/branch recognition programs?
The Breaking through Barriers Awards will not affect any current state/branch recognition programs. Hopefully, the awards will complement state/branch programming goals and recognition and further encourage states/branches to support and undertake mission-based programming.

How will the Breaking through Barriers Awards be marketed nationally?
The awards will be launched at 2010 state conventions, with further information about the program to follow in e-mail and print publications and on AAUW's social media outlets—AAUW Dialog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Where can I get ideas for mission-based programming?
The Breaking through Barriers brochure, which was distributed at the 2009 AAUW National Convention, is a useful tool for program ideas. In addition, you can refer to the Programs in a Box that are on the AAUW website. These are replicable programs that can be adapted by most branches.

How can I share this information with my state/branch?
You are encouraged to use as many communication vehicles as possible to share information about the Breaking through Barriers Awards with your state/branch. You can e-mail the information about the program to all state/branch members, include the program as an agenda item at meetings, and include it in your newsletters, and on your websites. This will help you evaluate your own programming and decide which, if any, of your programs you'd like to be recognized and whether to submit an application. Sharing information about the awards will also help identify individuals in the state/branch who are willing to work on the application. If you have not already done so, you can share the Breaking through Barriers video and brochure with members to reinforce the AAUW mission and the ways in which state/branch programming helps the AAUW mission come to life in your communities.

Can a program that receives an award in 2011 be submitted again in future award cycles?
If the program occurs within the specified timeframe of the future application cycles, and the program was not one of the top three award recipients, the state/branch may apply with that program again.

Will programs that did not receive awards receive any feedback on their program?
Unfortunately, due to the number of program applications anticipated, the selection committee will be unable to provide feedback.