Who will you recognize in 2027?

It’s almost time to celebrate the outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators making a difference at your institution! The 2027 Excellence Awards give member colleges the opportunity to recognize those whose dedication and contributions make a lasting impact on student success and institutional excellence.

Mark your calendar:

October 1, 2026: Recipient submissions open
February 1, 2027: Deadline to submit recipient names

Submission details and a link to the form will be emailed to the liaison and president at each NISOD member college. Each institution determines its own selection criteria and process, and all recipients must be approved by the college president or chancellor.

Questions? Email membership@nisod.org.

Learn more about the Excellence Awards

The NISOD Papers

"Embedded AI Tutoring Agents: Managing Change in Student Support," Richard Pierce, Karen Palmer, and Ustadza White of Yavapai College examine SOPHIE AI, a college-developed AI tutor built to encourage critical thinking rather than give away answers. Embedded directly in course pages within the learning management system, SOPHIE AI was designed to supplement—not replace—human tutoring, guiding students through reflection rather than providing direct answers. Its first-semester pilot revealed modest adoption but strong satisfaction among the students who used it, suggesting a promising path for scaling agentic AI support across the institution.

Liaison Corner

The October Membership Update is here! Student Essay and Graphic Design Contest submissions open October 15, so now is the time to spread the word and encourage students to participate. Plus, NISOD members can explore nearly 100 archived sessions from the 2024 and 2025 Virtual Conferences at no charge throughout the membership year.

Read the October Member Update

Previous monthly updates can be found on the Liaison Corner webpage. Please email questions to membership@nisod.org.

Spring Survey Registration

Hear From Your Students in 2027

Registration is open for CCSSE and DESSE 2027! Both surveys help colleges hear directly from students and turn their experiences into insight for institutional improvement. Not sure which survey is the right fit? Explore the differences and find the best option for your college.

Find the right survey for your students!

Webinars