Have librarians crossed the border of faculty sanctum of the academy? A personal journey of breaking barriers

Abstract

Each spring at my institution, faculty from each discipline invest in evaluating their students to nominate them for “the best of” categories.  Should the selection criteria be based on the GPA score, character traits, service recognition, overcoming adverse life situations, or unusual but worthy aspirations?  What would be the most appropriate selection criteria?  Similarly, academic deans from each college get together to select the best faculty in teaching, scholarship, advising, and service areas.  Other nomination activities culminate in rewards ceremonies throughout the year.  Most of all, the graduation commencement ceremony will be highlighted by the celebration of the award recipients from students and faculty.  With admiration from the audience, including the students, faculty, administration and parents, the awardees march onto the graduation platform purposefully and proudly on that day.