Compliance Champion Award

The Compliance Champion Award annually recognizes an employee from Auburn University (AU), Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM), the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES), and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) (collectively, “the University” or “Auburn”) who exemplifies outstanding commitment to institutional compliance. This individual has made significant contributions to implementing the elements of an effective compliance program at the University and fosters a culture of compliance and ethics throughout the organization.

2025 Compliance Champion Award recipient, Robert Gottesman.

Award Criteria

Nominees should reflect the following qualities:

Leadership in Compliance Culture

Demonstrates proactive leadership in promoting ethical conduct and compliance awareness.
Serves as a role model for integrity, accountability, and transparency across departments or units.

Innovation and Initiative

Develops or implements creative solutions and initiatives to enhance compliance practices or processes.
Identifies and mitigates risks through forward-thinking strategies or tools to ensure appropriate controls are in place.

Impact and Influence

Makes a measurable impact on institutional compliance outcomes (e.g., improved audit results, reduced risk exposure, increased training participation).
Builds effective partnerships across departments or units and positively influences peers and leadership through collaboration and advocacy.

Commitment to Education and Awareness

Champions compliance education through training, mentorship, or outreach.
Actively contributes to building a knowledgeable and empowered ethical campus community.

Sustained Excellence

Demonstrates a consistent track record of excellence in compliance-related responsibilities over time.
Goes above and beyond the expectations of their role to support institutional integrity.

Selection Process

Nomination Process

Nominations will be submitted via an official Microsoft Forms submission portal managed by the Office of Audit, Compliance & Privacy (OACP). The nomination form must include nominee and nominator information, a written justification addressing the award criteria, and optional supporting documentation.

The nomination period opens annually on August 1. All submissions must be received by 11:59 PM (CT) on September 1. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Self-nominations will be allowed with a letter of support from a supervisor or other director-level or above at the institution.

Multiple nominations are allowed for a single individual.

Eligibility Screening

The Office of Audit, Compliance & Privacy will review submissions to confirm eligibility and completeness. Qualified nominations will be forwarded to the Selection Committee.

Selection Committee

A Selection Committee will review nominations, evaluate candidates, and select a recipient based on consensus. The selection committee will initially consist of the Summit Planning Committee, comprised of representatives from the Office of Audit, Compliance & Privacy, with the option to add up to three additional at-large representatives from the Institutional Compliance Committees at AU and AUM.

Evaluation Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on:

Leadership in Compliance Culture
Innovation and Initiative
Impact and Influence
Commitment to Education & Awareness
Sustained Excellence

Timeline

August 1: Nomination form becomes available
September 4, 2026 at 11:59 CT: Nominations close
September 1 – October 1: Selection Committee reviews and scores nominees.
Early October: Selection Committee completes final deliberation and selects a recipient.
October: The selected recipient is notified confidentially prior to public announcement.
November: The selected recipient receives the Compliance Champion Award at the annual Compliance Summit, typically held during Compliance & Ethics Week.

Documentation & Recordkeeping

All nomination and evaluation materials will be maintained by the Office of Audit, Compliance & Privacy in accordance with records retention policies. Committee deliberations are confidential.

The selection process will be reviewed annually by the Selection Committee to ensure fairness, transparency, and alignment with institutional priorities.