AWARDS

ACM recognizes excellence through its eminent series of awards for outstanding technical and professional achievements and contributions in computer science and information technology.

 

Call for Nominations

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ACM has three distinct member grades to recognize the professional accomplishments of our members:

Senior Member - is a member grade that recognizes up to 25% of the top ACM Professional Members with at least 10 years of professional experience and 5 years of continuous Professional Membership who have demonstrated performance that sets them apart from their peers.

Distinguished Member - is a member grade recognizing up to 10% of the top ACM members, with at least 15 years of professional experience that had significant accomplishments or impact in the computing field. The grade has three categories: Distinguished Educator, Distinguished Engineer and Distinguished Scientist, recognizing achievements in different areas. Nominations for each category are considered separately.

Fellow - is ACM's most prestigious member grade recognizing the top 1% of ACM members for their outstanding accomplishments in computing and information technology and/or outstanding service to ACM and the larger computing community.

Criteria

Senior Member

     [Overview]   [Full Guidelines]   [Nomination Form]   [Senior Member FAQ]   
     [Advice to Those Seeking ACM Senior Member]    [Recipients]

  • Five years continuous (Professional, not Student) membership in ACM
  • Ten years of professional experience (includes some educational experience; see notes below)
  • Demonstrated performance that sets the member apart from peers
  • Three endorsements from colleagues (not necessarily ACM members) in the field
  • Please consult the "Checklist for ACM Senior Member/Distinguished Member Nominations" page for information needed to submit a Senior Member nomination.

Distinguished Member

     [Overview]   [Full Guidelines]   [Nomination Form]    [Distinguished Member FAQ]  
     [Advice to Members Seeking ACM Distinction]   [Recipients]

  • Five years continuous (Professional, not Student) membership in ACM
  • Fifteen years of professional experience (includes some educational experience; see notes below)
  • Significant accomplishments or impact in the computing field as an educator, engineer or scientist
  • Four (minimum) to five (maximum) endorsements (previously four to eight) from colleagues in the field. Two of these endorsements must be from ACM Members. It is strongly recommended, but not required, that the two ACM Member endorsements be from ACM Fellows or ACM Distinguished Members. Ideally, one of the endorsements will be from a current or past employer or client.
  • Please consult the "Checklist for ACM Senior Member/Distinguished Member Nominations" page for information needed to submit a Distinguished Member nomination.

Fellow

     [Full Guidelines]    [Nomination Form]    [Making the Case for an ACM Fellow] [Recipients]

  • Five years continuous (Professional, not Student) membership in ACM
  • No specific requirement for years of professional experience
  • Outstanding accomplishments in computing and information technology and/or outstanding service to ACM and the larger computing community
  • Five endorsements (previously five to eight) from current ACM Professional Members - ideally ACM Fellows.

Nomination Procedures

All nominations for advanced ACM member grades must be made through the ACM website:

Notes

  • In meeting the requirements for professional experience, educational experience is credited as follows:
    • 3 years if the candidate holds a baccalaureate degree
    • 4 years if the candidate holds a masters degree
    • 5 years if the candidate holds a doctorate
  • For all grades, candidate must have been an ACM Professional Member (not Student Member) for at least five years immediately preceding the final date for submission of the respective nomination.
  • Although there is a natural progression implied within these three grade levels, this progression is not compulsory, i.e., if a candidate meets the requirements of the membership grade it is not necessary to advance from one grade level to the next.
  • Endorsers for Senior Member and Distinguished Member must attest that:
    • They know the candidate and their work
    • The candidate has accurately described their achievements
    • The accomplishments outlined in the nomination meet the endorsers' best understanding of the criteria for Senior and Distinguished Member.

Deadlines

Senior Member nominations are accepted throughout the year and are reviewed by the Senior Member Nominations Committee in cycles.  The deadline for the current cycle is March 3, 2015.

Distinguished Member nominations and endorsements must be received by August 3, 2015, by 12 midnight EDT, UTC/GMT -4 hours.

Fellow nominations and endorsements must be received by September 10, 2015, by 12 midnight EDT, UTC/GMT -4 hours.

Recognition

ACM Senior Members and Distinguished Members will receive a certificate and a specially annotated ACM membership card. There will be an announcement on the ACM Web.  The Distinguished Members' names will be listed in the Communications of the ACM.

ACM Fellows will receive a certificate, a specially annotated ACM membership card and an ACM Fellow lapel pin. Their names will be listed in an issue of Communications of the ACM and a letter of recognition will be sent to the chief executive at the Fellow's place of employment. Formal induction ceremonies and presentation of Fellow certificates and pins will take place at the next annual ACM Awards Banquet.

Questions

Please send any questions you may have about the Senior Member , Distinguished Member , or Fellows  Programs.