NYSERNet is pleased to announce the 2017 Diversity Award program, an initiative intended to encourage underrepresented women and men to participate in and seek advancement in the information technology field by attending The NYSERNet Conference 2017.

NYSERNet is offering up to five diversity awards for the conference, which takes place Oct. 2 and 3 in Syracuse. Each award provides admission to the full conference program, including any pre- and post-conference workshops, and $500 to offset travel and hotel costs.

Women and minorities who have not previously attended The NYSERNet Conference (formerly called TechSummit) are strongly encouraged to apply. The conference is ideal for professionals working in and around higher education who have an interest in networking, security and the latest cutting-edge technical ideas and trends for the campus environment.

Award review criteria:
The awards are based on application merit. Priority will be given to applications from diverse and/or underrepresented populations. Applicants from educational or non-profit organizations who have never attended The NYSERNet Conference are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to apply:
Interested individuals should supply the following:

• A brief biography, including name, title, organization affiliation, address and contact information.
• A completed application: A brief letter describing the applicant’s interest in attending The NYSERNet Conference and why he or she feels the experience would benefit his or her professional path.
• Indication of management support: The applicant should indicate that his or her manager supports the request to attend the conference and technical training.

Restrictions: 
Awards are available to members of the NYSERNet community from New York state, with strong preference given to applicants from the non-profit, educational community.

Conditions of the award:
Award recipients must attend The NYSERNet Conference 2017 and submit a brief, one-page report that highlights discussions or sessions he or she found most interesting or beneficial. Reports should be submitted by Friday, Nov. 3, to Sharon Akkoul (sakkoul@nysernet.org). The $500 award will be sent to the recipients following submission of this conference report.

Deadline:
The deadline to apply for The NYSERNet Conference 2017 Diversity Awards is Monday, Aug. 21. Applications should be emailed to Sharon Akkoul (sakkoul@nysernet.org) with the subject line, “The NYSERNet Conference Diversity Award.” Applications will be reviewed by The NYSERNet Conference Diversity Award Committee, which is comprised of representatives from the NYSERNet staff, board and member community. Awardees will be notified at least 30 days prior to the conference. Applications received after the deadline will be considered if funding remains available.