The Chancellor will appoint a committee representing the University to receive recommendations for the Founder's Excellence Awards. The deadline for recommendations will be set by the committee. The committee responsibilities will include screening the recommendations and forwarding a final list of recommendations to the Chancellor for selection.

The selection criteria to be used by the committee is:

Alumni, administration, faculty, staff, and friends of MSU-Northern who have made a significant contribution to the development of Northern or to their chosen profession in one or more of the areas listed to the right.

(Candidates for excellence awards may not be currently employed by Montana State University Northern.)
 

Founder's Excellence Award Criteria:

1. Leadership
   1. Local
      1. A person who gave significant ideas and actions,
      2. A person who was a benefactor of Northern by giving moral support and service,
      3. A person who enabled the growth of the college through legislation, etc.
   2. State or National
      1. A person who gave original ideas, creations, or contributions to an academic field, particularly in degree areas offered by Northern,
      2. A person who gave dedicated and long lasting contributions to a particular field or activity,
      3. A person of notoriety by virtue of office.
          
2. Service
   A person who has held an important position, published material, made an important discovery or invention, made a contribution to an academic field, or has given significant direction or service to Northern for a minimum of 25 years, particularly if he/she is or was an alumnus, faculty, staff, or administrator of Northern.
    
3. Financial
   A person who gave a direct financial contribution to the University, Foundation, or Alumni Association for buildings, scholarships, research, faculty development, etc.