The OLC Awards and Recognition Program is an opportunity for the OLC to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of educators within our community! This program not only celebrates the transformative contributions of dedicated professionals but also shares their innovative practices that inspire others across the field.

Each year, the OLC Nominations, Awards, and Recognition Committee carefully reviews submissions to select our awardees, who are then honored during the OLC’s spring and fall conferences. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this celebration of excellence—apply now and let your contributions be recognized!

​​AWARDS PROCESS & CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

With the exception of the OLC Fellows and the Karen Swan OLJ Outstanding Research Achievement award, all awards use one evaluation rubric that is built from the OLC Dimensions of Quality Education. Reviewers are selected from the OLC membership to rate submissions and provide their recommendations to the OLC Nominations, Awards, and Recognition Committee who make the final selections. Self-nominations are permissible for the OLC Awards and Scholarships except for the OLC Fellows and the Karen Swan OLJ Outstanding Research Achievement award.

FALL | OLC Accelerate Awards, Recognition, and OLC Fellows

Taking place every fall, the OLC Accelerate Awards Gala honors excellence in online teaching, research, and leadership. The following honors are awarded at OLC Accelerate:

OLC Accelerate Awards of Excellence

  • Excellence in Faculty Development
  • Excellence in Instructional and Teaching Practice
  • Gomory-Mayadas Award for Excellence in Online Educational Leadership
  • John R. Bourne Award for Excellence in Online Programs and Programming
  • Karen Swan OLJ Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Online Education

OLC Fellows

Bruce N. Chaloux Scholarship for Early Career Excellence

    Status: Closed

    We are no longer accepting submissions for OLC Accelerate 2024 awards and recognition.

    SPRING | OLC Innovate and MERLOT Awards and Recognition

    Taking place every spring, the OLC and MERLOT awards gala that takes place at OLC Innovate looks at effective practices, equity and inclusion, and open education. In addition to the annual MERLOT awards, the following honors are bestowed at OLC Innovate:

    • OLC Innovate Awards of Excellence
    • Excellence in Design Practice
    • Excellence in Online and Blended Student Support
    • Excellence in Online and Blended Learning Innovation
    • Excellence in Data and Learning Analytics Design

    OLC Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship

    Status: Closed

    To learn more about all of the awards, scholarships, and recognition, we invite you to explore the pages linked on the side menu.

    Questions and Support

    For additional information about the OLC Awards and Recognition programs, please email us at awards@onlinelearning-c.org.