Professional News

UK Advising Network now accepting nominations for advising awards

photo of a student advising appointment.
Priority registration dates are now assigned for undergraduate students based on their degree completion percentage, which is based on completed coursework only, instead of credit hours as it has been in the past. Arden Barnes | UK Photo.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 7, 2023) — The University of Kentucky Advising Network is now accepting nominations for the Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Award. This award recognizes outstanding service in the field of undergraduate academic advising for both faculty and professional advisors. 

The Ken Freedman Awards have been awarded annually since 1995. Named after UK advisor Ken Freedman, a founder of the UK Advising Network in 1986, the award helps to shine a light on the hardworking faculty and staff who help students navigate the university, ensuring that all students have the tools they need to succeed at UK and beyond. 

“The Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Award has a long history at UK, possibly longer than anyone currently working in advising remembers,” said Shaun Ketterman, communications chair for the UK Advising Network. “Mr. Freedman was an academic advisor at UK from the mid-80s until his untimely passing in 2001. He did much to engender the adoption of national professional advising standards at UK and is one of the founders of the UK Advising Network. This award is given to one faculty advisor and one professional advisor each year who embody Mr. Freedman’s dedication to the profession, the university, and the students.”

Two award recipients are selected for the Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Award, one professional advisor and one faculty advisor. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in the nominating process. Nominees are not limited to colleges. Any faculty or staff member who plays a role in advising are eligible. 

In addition to the Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Awards, four NACADA-aligned awards will be presented. These awards will include:

  • Outstanding New Advisor
  • Empowering Leadership in Administration
  • Innovative Advising Award
  • Advocate in Advising- Friend to the Community 

Nominations for Advising Awards are due Friday, March 10. 

The recipients of the Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Awards will be recognized at the Ken Freedman Day of Recognition on May 8.  Recipients will also be nominated by the UK Advising Network for the NACADA Region 3 Excellence in Advising Award and National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Advisor Award.

To make a nomination for the Ken Freedman Outstanding Advisor Awards, click here

To see the full list of previous Ken Freedman awardees, click here.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.