SEA Change Awards recognize institutions and academic units that are taking concrete, evidence-informed steps to make science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) more inclusive and excellent. The peer-reviewed Awards honor work that changes the system—policies, practices, and cultures and not just individual programs—so that more people can fully participate in STEMM. 

See our Awardees and learn more, including who can apply, by exploring the types of Awards: 

SEA Change offers several types of awards, reflecting the different scales and contexts in which change happens. Each award type concentrates on different approaches necessary for systems change: "top-down" (Institutional Awards), "bottom-up" (Departmental & Disciplinary Awards), and "bi-directional" (Biomedicine Awards). 

Across all award types, SEA Change Awards emphasize: 

• Evidence-informed change: using data to understand unnecessary barriers to participation and success, and collective evidence to track progress.
• Systems-level impact: changing policies, structures, and cultures, not just running stand-alone programs.
• Sustainability: planning for changes that can be maintained and built upon over time.
• Contextualized approaches: recognizing that effective strategies differ by institutional type, mission, and local context and the unique needs to each academic unit. 

These priorities are grounded in the SEA Change guiding principles. 

See the iterative process for internal assessment below, along with what is—and is not—submitted to peer reviewers for their feedback.

 

Application and Review Process 

While specific details may vary by award type and cycle, the SEA Change award process typically includes: 

1. Preparation, self-assessment, and action-planning. Teams gather and analyze data, engage constituents, and examine policies and practices that shape equal opportunity and fair access for all with the talent and drive to succeed in STEMM. Emphasis is placed on making meaning of self-assessment findings so that proposed actions will address the underlying systemic causes of any challenges identified.
2. Application development. Institutions or units prepare an application that describes their context, summarizes key findings from self-assessment, and outlines an action plan complete with key indicators of progress and a change management plan.
3. Peer review. Applications are assessed by a panel of trained reviewers who draw on SEA Change frameworks, guiding principles, and their own experience with institutional and organizational change.
4. Feedback and decision. Applicants receive a decision as well as detailed feedback to inform ongoing or future work, whether or not an award is conferred.
5. Recognition and continued improvement. Awardees are recognized for their progress and are encouraged to continue building on their efforts. Awards are good for five years and then must be renewed, or progress to the next level. 

SEA Change Awards have three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold