Of The Month

On This Page
General OTM information
What determines a good nominee?
Nomination and Submission
Advisor of the Month
Community of the Month
Executive Board Member of the Month
NRHH Chapter of the Month
Resident Assistant of the Month
Spotlight of the Month
Student of the Month
Program of the Month

How to submit OTM Nominations
OTM Point Explanation

General OTM information

Of the Months, otherwise known as OTM’s, are one means for NRHH to recognize outstanding students, advisors, and programs on the campuses of colleges and universities across the United States. OTM’s are the primary source of recognition throughout NRHH. OTM’s are written at individual schools, graded on their local level, and then graded on regional and national levels.

OTM’s are separated into eleven (11) different categories that are graded on the regional and national levels. These categories are:

What determines a good nominee?

So...we have a bunch of categories, but what makes a good nominee for an OTM. Well, that’s any easy answer...anyone and everyone...anything and everything. The purpose of an OTM is not to win an award, it is to recognize someone or something for their great contributions to on campus living during a certain month. It can be something as simple as a student doing great on their academics or a program that was presented by a student to as complex as a week of programs or a resident assistant who did a program everyday of the month. The possibilities are endless. When looking at writing an OTM, take into consideration some of these questions when looking for a nominee in a category:

Writing a Quality OTM

Writing a Quality OTM Now, those questions by all means are not the only questions that should be answered when looking for a nominee...but it’s been set in stone that anyone can be nominated. So how do you go about writing an OTM? What makes an OTM a great OTM? Take for instance this example:

What if NRHH had a category called “Toilet Paper Of The Month”? Consider two rolls of toilet paper are in the category, one being the “sandpaper” kind that can be bought in bulk and the other roll being Charmin ultra soft, double quilted, double roll, 2 ply toilet paper. Now, we could write an OTM on the “sandpaper” toilet paper and what would it say? Well, it’s toilet paper, it gets the job done, and it’s cheap. It does what any normal toilet paper is supposed to do...it does what it’s expected to do. Then, we could write an OTM about the Charmin roll and what would it say? Well, it too is toilet paper, but is was made with extra care for the user because it’s double quilted, twice the size of the original role, 2 ply, and squeezable soft not to mention it too gets the job done. It goes above and beyond the call of duty of what is expected out of the toilet paper. When you look at the two OTM’s, which one is the better OTM? I think you can see that the Charmin one would definitely be the quality OTM because you could put in many things about how it does more then just being a roll of toilet paper.

Yes, the example is not something that would happen in real life, but if the concept behind the “Toilet Paper OTM” is thought about, you will understand what makes a great OTM. Later in the guide you will see a set of certain criteria that goes with each OTM category, but that is just a minimum. Explaining how the student, staff member, or program goes outside of what is normally done makes an OTM great. Show why the person deserves to be recognized as the student of the month. Express the creativity in the program being nominated and the impact it has on students. Paint a picture that is so vivid that those who read the OTM really wish they could have been at the program or met the person being talked about. If you do that in an OTM, the awards will take care of themselves. Be proud of what is written in the OTM. Who Should Submit? It’s evident now that there are these great things out there called “OTM’s” that can be used to recognized individuals and programs on campuses throughout the world, but who can submit an OTM? It’s really a very interesting question because the actual answer is anyone in the world. With the OTM Database, submitting an OTM can be done anywhere in the world. The only catch is that your school can only submit one winner from their campus to the regional level and same from the regional level to the national level. If OTM’s are graded on individual campuses, every person can submit an OTM. NRHH opens the doors for anyone and everyone to do a little bit of recognition no matter how large or small it is.

Nomination and Submission

Is there a best way to nominate OTM’s? Of course not...some schools nominate winners and then write the nominations up, some allow as many submissions as possible on their campus and then grade them at their school, and some assign categories to people to write about. There’s no wrong way to submit an OTM unless you don’t submit one at all!

Selecting campus winners is up to individual schools as well. There can be a campus committee or a single submission in each category. Remember though, every NACURH affiliated schools is allowed to submit only one (1) nomination per category each month to the Regional Associate Director (RAD) of NRHH on the OTM database. The RAD for each region then grades the OTM’s with their regional grading committee and selects one OTM in each category from all the campus submissions to send to the national level. That OTM represents the respective region. After the national office grades the OTM’s, they select the national winners in each category.

To submit an OTM, simply go to the OTM database , create an account, and start typing. Check out the OTM database section in the OTM manual for further information to get each schools information on the database. Creating a Quality Summary of an OTM In addition to submitting the OTM, there is a section that asks for a 3-4 sentence summary of the OTM that was just submitted. The incorrect way to fill out this part of the form is:
“ Tom did well. He was at the program. I like Tom. He’s a great student.”
The correct way to submit a summary is:
“ Cindy was an excellent role model for her students and staff. Throughout the month, she presented a program on alcohol awareness and attended every hall governing board meeting. Her dedication showed in her academics as well by getting A’s on all of her tests during the month. She also was very active in the community by volunteering for 4 hours every week at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.”
These summary’s are important because the Regional Associate Director compiles a list of all the summary’s and creates a “blurb sheet”. This sheet with the OTM name and school has a list of all the OTM’s submitted during a month and the summary about the OTM. This way, a person can read a summary and then go search the database for the OTM without searching every OTM. This program has been very successful across the nation!

OTM Categories

There are a number of categories from which to submit OTMs for. Below are the criteria and important questions to consider when nominating for an OTM.

Advisor of the Month Criteria/Questions

Advisors need to create a supportive environment for the leaders they work with. The focus of the Advisor OTM should be based on the advisory role of the person rather then their professional role. Personal examples are often the best way to express the intangible contributions of an advisor. The nomination should display how the advisor was instrumental in helping the leaders they work with grow, learn, and develop.

It is also important to note the difference between the relationship between advisor and organization member versus the relationship between supervisor and staff member. The Advisor OTM should show how the person has made a positive impact on the students and staff that live in their respective area. This includes advising to individual governing boards/councils, campus wide organizations, and their staff. An advisor does not have to be a profession in the field of housing...the OTM can be written about a student who has taken on the role of an advisor to a specific group.

Community of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words. Is the nomination month specific?

This category is another award that recognizes the intangible. A community is a group of individuals that share a sense of belonging with other members of the group and share experiences that bind them together and make them a mutually identifiable group. An outstanding community is one that makes a positive impact on not only the other members of the group, but also the people and students around them. Make sure to include how the community exists, whether it is a wing or floor of a residence hall, the executive board or committee of an organization, or another on campus group of students.

Items to include in the Community OTM are activities the community does together and what accomplishments they have made during the month. Specific examples of cohesiveness are encouraged. A community can be as small as a few people (an executive board) or as large as a whole building, apartment complex, or campus.

Executive Board Member of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words.

Any executive board member of any on campus student’s organization in housing can be nominated for this category. A nominee can be on the executive board of the RHA or NRHH, or can be a hall/council executive board member. NCC’s are considered to be an Executive Board Member even if they aren’t on your local campus.

It is extremely important in this category to nominate a person for their duties in an executive board position. Many times, the OTM reads as a student OTM. It needs to focus on the criteria stated above. If the person fills more than one role which would make him/her eligible for more than one award (i.e. executive board and student), two separate nominations can be made in the necessary categories.

This category should be approached similarly to the Student OTM category though but focus on executive board items. Special efforts, not just fulfilling the job requirements of the position, help make this OTM category special. Make sure you include some of the responsibilities of the position so the reader will know how they truly went above and beyond. Be sure to briefly include other activities the student is involved in. This shows that they are a well rounded leader and able to perform well in their position and still participate in other activities. An executive board member is someone that is deemed such a position by your individual RHA.

NRHH Chapter of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words.

This category is to recognize an outstanding NRHH chapter, not an outstanding NRHH member. Nomination should be group specific and not concentrate on the efforts of a few individuals.

When nominating an NRHH chapter, reviewing the purpose of NRHH before starting is helpful.NRHH is a multi-facet organization of leadership, community service, and recognition. Be sure to include all of the activities that make a chapter special.

It is also helpful to include information about some of your members and their commitment to NRHH. Not only include members and their commitment, but the commitment of the chapter to certain organizations in the community or campus. Also include any new and exciting ideas that a chapter has tried out during the month. This is a category in which you can nominate chapters from other schools.

Resident Assistant of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words. Is the nomination month specific?

Uniqueness in this category is very important. New and creative approaches to the position show a true dedication to helping out the students. If possible, include any difficult confrontations with which the RA intervened or crisis situations with which he/she managed to make a difference. Those situations should be brief, but give a glimpse into their job. Also, include how the RA interacts with their residents. What does the nominee do on their floor with his/her residents?

What types of creative programming ideas has the nominee done. Besides programming, also include any bulletin board the nominee created and how the nominee promoted an advocacy month or week in a passive situation. In addition, do not forget to mention how the nominee has helped and supported their fellow staff members. It is also beneficial to include personal testimonies from residents and fellow staff in the OTM.

There are many aspects to the job of a resident assistant. There are certain things that they must do for their job that do not necessarily show that they are deserving of an OTM award. Be sure to include some of the RA’s duties and how they have gone above and beyond them because the duties of an RA vary from campus to campus. Other things that might be beneficial to include are committee involvement, involvement in other organizations, maintaining an exceptional GPA or having organized a particularly close community.

Nominees in this category must be in a staff position that oversees students on a floor, complex, or on campus living organization. These positions can include, but are not limited to, titles such as resident assistant, community assistant, house manager, area advisor, and complex advisor. Resident assistants typically do not supervise a staff.

Spotlight of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words.

This award is intended to recognize outstanding OTM’s that don't fit into any set category, such as Graduate Assistants, Food Service Personnel, night security, etc. The nominee cannot be an advisor, executive board member, resident assistant, or student. Include how this person has helped out an individual or contributed to the well being of a building or living community. RHA’s are not a spotlight.

A spotlight could be a favorite professor. They do not fit in another category and if they have done something to contribute to on campus living (not just by giving a good grade) such as presenting a program for residents, they are a viable candidate.

Student of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words.

Any student can be nominated in this category. It is important to show a student show has put forth special effort during the month of nomination. Has the student shown exceptional growth during the month of nomination? What makes the nominee extraordinary during the month and how has the nominee helped out their on campus community?

Please note that Resident Assistants and Advisors are not eligible for this award. You can however nominate executive board members if they recognized for their efforts as a student, not an executive board member. Include information on how they helped out fellow students, stepped up into leadership roles, or helped better the on campus experiences of other students.

Program of the Month Criteria/Questions

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words. (some are specific to categories)

Program OTM’s are the longest OTM. First, filling out the form is extremely important. When determining the target population, do not select a number of people you wanted to attend. If you advertise for a program for a whole building or campus population, the total population is the number to be used. If the program is for a floor, the number of residents that live on a floor is the population, not the number of people you hope show up. The target population is not a number that you magically pull out of the air. It is determined by the number of residents on a floor, building, apartment complex, or campus depending on who you present the program to.
It is very important that the dates of the program are correct. The grading committees check this information. When writing a program OTM, focus on the creativity, originality, and functionality of the program. New and unique programs are always popular. If it’s an annual program, what twists were added to make it better? Mention how the program was approached by the presenters as well.

Expanding on the goals of the program and the evaluation of the goals and program as a whole is beneficial. Include resources used, attendance, etc. to round out the OTM. Nominations are not only giving recognition to a group of leaders that have done an excellent on programming, but it becomes a resource and a guide for leaders on other campuses. Write the OTM so someone from another campus can read the OTM and recreate the program from that information.

This OTM category has multiple fields with different word maximums.