The Basic Needs Champion Award honors leaders, advocates and changemakers whose commitment to basic needs, measurable impact, innovation, collaborative leadership and advocacy have significantly advanced student’s basic needs security. Nominees are recognized for their distinguished contributions to creating equitable, sustainable solutions that empower students and strengthen communities across New York State.

All nominations must be received by Monday, September 7, 2026

Guidance Nomination Criteria

Please provide specific examples when possible. Strong nominations include accomplishments, measurable outcomes, student stories (without identifying information), partnerships or other evidence that demonstrates the nominee's contribution to basic need supports across Campus. (Suggested responses below: 300–500 words.)

Commitment to Basic Needs Support

Describe how the nominee demonstrates dedication and commitment to supporting student basic needs (food security, housing, transportation, childcare, mental health, or other essential needs).

Impact and Outcomes

Describe the impact of the nominee's efforts. Include examples of programs, services, partnerships, or measurable outcomes that demonstrate how their work has positively affected students or the campus community.

Innovation and Community Collaboration

Describe how the nominee has demonstrated innovation, creativity, or collaboration in addressing student basic needs. Include examples of new approaches, cross-campus partnerships, community engagement or efforts to improve existing or new programs and services.

Leadership and Advocacy

Explain how the nominee has demonstrated leadership or advocacy in advancing basic needs initiatives. Describe how they promote awareness, influence change, inspire others, or improve support systems for students.

Distinguishing Recognition

What distinguishes this nominee from others working to support student basic needs? Describe the qualities, accomplishments, or contributions that make them especially deserving of this recognition and explain why they should receive this award.

If you are submitting a work of art to the 2026-27 Exhibition of Art at the SUNY Rockefeller Institute, you must sign the downloadable SUNY Legal Agreement and the Campus Permission Form to submit with the following registration form:      

 IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: 

• This exhibition is open to faculty and registered SUNY students pursuing an arts degree, but please note that pieces must be valued at less than $1200. We will accept only 2-dimensional visual art forms for this exhibition.
• Students must submit their own application. This will also ensure that the "Submitter" name matches the name of the artist, which is required in order to be considered in this exhibition.
• A separate form is required for each work submitted.
• Each campus can submit up to ten works. Because of this, there MUST be one coordinator/liaison from each campus. 
• The deadline for submission of this application is Friday, October 16, 2026.  All art must be complete and ready to hang without any modifications. Hanging apertures must be situated in the correct location, work must not require more than one person to easily lift it, and all art must be complete, dry, and ready to install when delivered. 
• The exhibition will run for one year, so please be prepared to have your art on exhibit for a full year with no exceptions.
• At the end of the show your campus will be notified with instructions on retrieving your artwork.
• Please be aware that, if selected, a photo of your work and your artist statement may be featured in a virtual gallery guide or in other SUNY communications. Submission to this exhibition constitutes agreement to this term.
• Contact: ArtOpportunities@suny.edu with logistical questions.

2026-27 SUNY Student Art Exhibition at the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building in Albany-Best of SUNY: Three pieces will be selected as Best of SUNY, an honor which comes with an award of $1,000. Four pieces will be selected for Honorable Mention and an award of $500. If you are submitting a work of art, you must sign the downloadable SUNY Art Legal and Permission Form and the Campus Permission Form to submit with the following application. 

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: 

• The Submission deadline for this application is Friday, October 16, 2026.
• This exhibition is open to registered SUNY students pursuing an arts degree with faculty approval.
• Students must submit their own application. This will also ensure that the "Submitter" name matches the name of the artist, which is required in order to be considered in this exhibition.
• A separate application is required for each work submitted.
• Each campus can submit up to ten works. Because of this, there MUST be one coordinator/liaison from each campus. 
• We will accept sculpture and two-dimensional visual art forms.
• Submission of art pieces requiring extensive assembly will not be accepted, two-dimensional art must be ready to hang without any modifications, hanging apertures must be situated in the correct location, art that requires more than one person to maneuver it due to size and/or weight will not be accepted, and all art must be complete and ready to install when delivered.
• If your work is selected for this exhibition, we will follow up with your campus liaison with logistics and instructions for dropping off your artwork. Each campus should designate ONE person to drop-off/pick-up artwork. Installation will occur near the end of November.
• The SUNY Student Exhibition will run for one year, so please be prepared to have your art on exhibit for a full year. You will not be able to retrieve it early.
• At the end of the show, your campus will be notified with instructions for retrieving your artwork. Please coordinate with your campus to pick up the pieces at that time.
• Student artists, families, friends and faculty will be invited to attend the Best of SUNY Awards Ceremony. 
• Please be aware that, if selected, a photo of your work and your artist statement may be featured in a virtual gallery guide or in other SUNY communications. Submission of your work constitutes agreement to this term.
• Contact: ArtOpportunities@suny.edu with logistical questions.

• The 2026-27 Chancellor's Gallery will be located on the 4th floor of the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building in Albany.       This exhibition is open to both SUNY students and faculty.  This gallery will be seen by senior leaders across the system in New York State and therefore pieces selected for this gallery will be curated with that in mind.     If you are submitting a work of art, you must sign the downloadable SUNY Art Legal Agreement and the Campus Permission Form to submit with the following application. IMPORTANT GUIDELINES: The Submission deadline for this application is Friday, October 16, 2026.  
• This exhibition is open to faculty and registered SUNY students pursuing an art degree with faculty approval. We will accept 2-dimensional art forms, no sculpture.
• Artists must submit their own application.
• Students and faculty are advised to limit the number of submissions to five or fewer. Because of this, there MUST be one coordinator/liaison from each campus. 
• A separate application is required for each work submitted.
• All art must be complete and ready to hang when delivered.
• Installation for this exhibition will occur in early December.
• The exhibition will run for one year, so please be prepared to have your art on exhibit for a full year. You will not be able to retrieve your work early. 
• At the end of the show, your campus will be notified with instructions for retrieving your artwork. Please work with your campus to pick up your work at that time.
• Please be aware that, if selected, a photo of your work and your artist statement may be featured in a virtual gallery guide or in other SUNY communications. Submission to this exhibition constitutes agreement to this term.
• Contact: ArtOpportunities@suny.edu with logistical questions.