The Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that are making significant, well-planned, well-executed, and well-documented progress toward comprehensive internationalization—especially those using innovative and creative approaches. There are two categories in which an institution can receive a Simon Award, Comprehensive and Spotlight.
Eligibility & Application Process
Institutions eligible for consideration for a Simon Award must be accredited, degree-granting higher education institutions of the United States or its territories.
- An institution cannot be considered for any Simon Award if it is affiliated with a member of the current Simon Selection Committee.
- An institution cannot be considered for any Simon Award if it is affiliated with a current or newly elected member of the NAFSA Board of Directors.
Additional eligibility requirements for previously awarded institutions include:
- An institution awarded a Simon Spotlight Award is eligible to apply for a Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization the following year or for a Spotlight Award in a different focus area after five years.
- An institution awarded a Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization is eligible to apply for a Simon Award, whether Comprehensive or Spotlight, after 10 years.
Institutions selected to receive a Simon Award will reflect, as much as possible, a variety of institutional types within the Carnegie Classifications, as well as diversity in terms of institutional size, geographic location, and public or private governance.
What are the application components?
- A one-page cover letter on institutional letterhead.
- An essay addressing criteria as described below. Additional appendices, images, links, graphs, and charts will not be accepted and will not be shared with the selection committee. Please incorporate any data into the narrative of your essay.
- Comprehensive Award: A 2,500 word essay that addresses all four areas of achievement is required.
- Spotlight Award: A 1,800 word essay that addresses one selected area of achievement is required.
- A demographics form. This is a required form. Please fill in all sections to the best of your ability. Do not leave sections blank.
How to Submit an Application
The 2025 application cycle is now open! The application period for the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization is August 1 to October 10, 2024.
- Prepare a cover letter and essay addressing criteria for the intended award category. Download and complete the demographics form.
- Applications must be uploaded using NAFSA's 2025 online application form no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT, Thursday, October 10, 2024. A Word file and a PDF of the cover letter, essay, and demographics form are required.
- No background material is required at this initial phase. Institutions selected in the first round of screening will be asked to provide further information on a case-by-case basis.
- If you are applying for both awards, two separate complete applications must be submitted. The essays and cover letters must be distinct from one another.
Tips for Preparing a Simon Award Application
Watch a short video to gain tips and advice to successfully complete an application for the NAFSA Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization.
Learn how to complete each application component and how to navigate the application process.
- Read about past winners.
- Collaborate with campus offices.
- Utilize the cover letter effectively.
- Keep essays within word limits.
Selection Process
The selection of Simon Award recipients is a multi-step process. NAFSA will review applications to confirm eligibility. NAFSA will assemble a selection committee of representatives from recent Simon Award-winning institutions to conduct a peer review of nominations.
In the first round, the Simon Selection Committee will review applications for the Comprehensive and Spotlight Awards to identify a group of finalists for each award category. Finalists will then receive follow-up questions from the Committee to clarify or expand on items included in the first-round submission. Upon reviewing finalists' essays, the Simon Selection Committee will convene for their final deliberation and recommendations.
Recipients will be publicly announced in February.