Through its Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization, NAFSA: Association of International Educators recognizes institutions for overall excellence in internationalization efforts as evidenced in practices, structures, philosophies, and policies. NAFSA's Senator Paul Simon Spotlight Award is presented to institutions with specific innovative international programs or initiatives.
Profiles of Success
Each year institutions that win Simon Awards are profiled in NAFSA’s Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities, a report on international education in the United States. In the months following the selection of winners, NAFSA sends a journalist to the selected institutions to gather information for the report, learning firsthand about exemplary practices, model approaches, and major trends in internationalization on each campus.
2018
Spotlight Award
- Baldwin Wallace University for its BW in Zambia program
- Harper College for its Global Region of Focus Initiative
- University of Georgia for its UGA-Minas Gerais Joint Research Partnership
2017
Comprehensive Award
Spotlight Award
- Spelman College for the Spelman Going Global Initiative
- Texas Christian University for the TCU Rhino Initiative
- University of North Texas for the Heart of Mexico Program
2015
2013
Comprehensive Award
- Colorado State University
- Green River Community College
- Lone Star College System
- St. Cloud State University
- University of South Florida
Spotlight Award
- Fairfield University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Northwestern University
2011
Comprehensive Award
- Beloit College in Wisconsin
- Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
- Kennesaw State University in Georgia
- Macalester College in Minnesota
- New York University
Spotlight Award
- Barnard College in New York
- University of Rhode Island
- University of San Diego in California
2010
Comprehensive Award
- Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania
- Hobart & William Smith Colleges in New York
- Loyola University Maryland
- Northeastern University in Massachusetts
- University of San Francisco in California
Spotlight Award
- Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York
- La Roche College in Pennsylvania
- College of the Atlantic in Maine
2009
Comprehensive Award
- Boston University
- Connecticut College
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Portland State University
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Spotlight Award
- Berklee College of Music
- Fairleigh Dickinson University
- University of California Davis
2008
Comprehensive Award
- Goucher College
- Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Pittsburg State University
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Valparaiso University
Spotlight Award
- Colorado State University
- Miami Dade College
- Webster University
2007
Comprehensive Award
- Calvin College
- Elon University
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- The University of Oklahoma
Spotlight Award
- Shoreline Community College
- Valparaiso University
The Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State generously provided support for the initial four reports (2003-2006).
2006
Comprehensive Award
- Arcadia University in Pennsylvania
- Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota
- Earlham College in Indiana
- Michigan State University
- Purdue University in Indiana
Spotlight Award
- Babson College in Massachusetts
- Old Dominion University in Virginia
- University of Richmond in Virginia
2005
Comprehensive Award
- Colby College in Maine
- Colgate University in New York
- Howard Community College in Maryland
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Kansas
Spotlight Award
- Columbus State Community College
- El Camino College
- University of Denver
2004
Comprehensive Award
- Bellevue Community College in Washington
- Binghamton University in New York
- Duke University in North Carolina
- St. Norbert College in Wisconsin
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Spotlight Award
- Juniata College in Pennsylvania
- Lynn University in Florida
- Missouri Southern State University
- Suffolk University in Massachusetts
- University of Delaware
- University of Florida
- University of Notre Dame in Indiana
- University of Oregon
2003
Comprehensive Award
- Community College of Philadelphia
- Dickinson College
- Eastern Mennonite University
- Indiana University
- San Diego State University
- Yale University
Spotlight Award
- Duke University
- Kalamazoo College
- Kapi'olani Community College/University of Hawaii
- Middlebury College
- Montclair State University
- Randolph Macon Woman's College
- St. Olaf College
- Tufts University
- University of Pittsburgh
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
The 2003 and 2004 reports also received support from Educational Testing Service (ETS).