Collaborative Program of the Year

The Collaborative Program of the Year is awarded to creative programs which exemplify the positive outcomes of a collaboration within or between institutions. The award advances the value and credibility of the college union on campus, while improving communication, leadership, and campus partnerships.

2026 Recipient: The Longest Table: Bringing Community TUgether 

The Longest Table: Bringing Community TUgether is a large-scale, immersive community-building experience designed to bring together 500 students, faculty, staff, and campus leadership around one continuous table on Tulane University’s Berger Family Lawn. Through shared food, structured dialogue, guided facilitation, and intentional space design, the program invites participants to foster new connections, deepen belonging, and practice gratitude across identities, roles, and lived experiences. The Longest Table represents one of the most broadly cross-institutional partnerships to date at Tulane with shared leadership, resource pooling, and distributed coordination among 10+ departments. 

Nominations are not currently open. Submission materials must include the following:

  • Name, institution, and contact information of the primary contact for the program.
  • Title of the program.
  • A summary, up to two pages, of the program, addressing:
    • Description of the program, including goals and intended outcomes.
    • Description and inclusion of the evaluation methods in place for the program, including brief rationale for choosing stated methods.
    • Evidence that the program meets the criteria identified for this specific award.
  • And one compiled packet of additional supporting documentation for the program, which could include photos, marketing samples, course materials, budget information, testimonials, etc. No page limit exists, but only the first 15 pages will be considered by the review committee.

The review process includes, but is not limited to, an assessment of these criteria:

  • Demonstrate excellence in campus programming.
  • Be a true collaboration between multiple organizations, with planning, implementation, and evaluation work divided among all partners.
  • Demonstrate the use of practices that exemplify outstanding creativity or introduce new approaches beyond what is standard.
  • Achieve its stated intended outcomes.

 Due to the wide variety of programs that can be considered, a program does not need to meet every criterion.

All ACUI member institutions are eligible to apply for this award. For collaborative initiatives or partnerships, all institutions must be ACUI members. Eligible programs must:

  • Have taken place since the beginning of the previous academic year.
  • Serve as a model to other campuses for replication.
  • Achieve its stated program outcomes and objectives, with evaluation tools in place.
  • Agree to allow a summary of their accomplishments to be published.

Electronic notification will be sent to confirm submissions have been received. A confidential Campus Awards Committee, appointed annually by the ACUI president, will review materials to make the selection. One recipient will be chosen, unless otherwise noted for the specific award. One physical award will be given to the recipient, who will be recognized during the awards ceremony at the annual conference and in subsequent publications.

  • 2025: UnWind Your Mind, University of Massachusetts–Lowell  
  • 2024: #IWillListen Mental Health Awareness Week, Morgan State University
  • 2023: Career Clothing Giveaway, University of Akron
  • 2022: Islander Beach Bash at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
  • 2021: QuadFox 5k, University of Rochester
  • 2020: Juneteeth Celebration, University of Texas–San Antonio
  • 2019: What it Means to be a Redbird, Illinois State University
  • 2018: Family Graduation Celebration, Texas Woman’s University
  • 2017: MyUH, MyHouston, University of Houston
  • 2016: Experience Tallahassee Festival, Florida State University, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Community College
  • 2015: The Bro Code, University of South Alabama
  • 2014: Major Declaration Celebration, University of Rochester
  • 2013: Packapalooza, North Carolina State University
  • 2012: ACT (Achieving Community Together) Campaign, Texas State University
  • 2011: CONNECT: High-Risk Drinking Prevention Program, The College at Brockport
  • 2010: Stand Up for One Another, SUNY–Geneseo
  • 2009: Study Union, University of Central Florida
  • 2008: HumorFest, East Carolina University