Impact Statements: Templates & Tips

Let’s first start off by taking a look at how an impact statement is different than a summary of accomplishments.

Whereas a Summary of Accomplishments is a factual, comprehensive list of what you've done in order to provide a broad overview of your scholarly, teaching, service, and possibly outreach activities, an impact statement is a narrative reflection on the significance of your work in order to demonstrate the value or influence of your work, on your field, students, institution, community, or broader society. In essence, a Summary of Accomplishments focuses on what you did; an Impact Statement focuses on why it matters.

A Summary of Accomplishments includes:

Publications (books, articles, etc.)

Grants and funding

Courses taught

Students mentored

Committees served on

Conference presentations

Awards or honors

And, the tone is very descriptive, often chronological. It may be bulleted or structured by category.

Meanwhile, an Impact Statement includes:

Evidence of influence on policy, practice, or scholarship

Testimonials or outcomes related to student learning or mentorship

Community or public engagement outcomes

Changes made or innovation introduced

Metrics (citations, adoption, media coverage, etc.), if relevant

And, the tone is more reflective, persuasive, sometimes personal. You're making a case for your work’s meaningful contribution.

Quick analogy:

Summary of Accomplishments = Your CV in paragraph form

Impact Statement = Your "So what?" essay

A strong impact statement tells a compelling story of your contributions, showing a wide-reaching influence on students, the institution, the field, and even society. Instead of merely listing accomplishments, a strong impact statement will connect your actions and your research to concrete, measurable results, and it is written in such a way, with clear and accessible language, to appeal to a general audience.

Below is a framework for an impact statement as well as sample text that can be adapted for any faculty member.

Framework: Key Components of an Impact Statement

A powerful impact statement for an awards nomination typically includes these four (4) parts, which can be adapted depending on the specific award criteria:

Problem: Clearly and concisely describe the issue, question, or need your work addresses. Avoid jargon.

Response: Explain what you did to respond to the issue. This should summarize your innovative methods and approach.

Results: Provide evidence of the immediate outcomes of your work. Use numbers and quantifiable data whenever possible.

Impact: Describe the broader, more significant payoff of your work. Explain who benefited and how their knowledge, behavior, or circumstances changed because of your efforts.

Here is sample language that one might use in an impact statement:

Buckeye’s pioneering work in X has transformed clinical practice and public health policy.

Buckeye developed innovative approaches to Y that have improved outcomes for underserved populations.

Buckeye’s leadership in Z has shaped national guidelines and global health strategies.

Buckeye’s groundbreaking studies have reshaped our view of X.

Buckeye’s work addressed a major unanswered question in Y.

Buckeye developed novel technologies that enabled the study of Z.

Buckeye’s discoveries revealed previously unknown aspects of X.

This work has inspired new directions in the field and transformed scientific thinking.

Example templates

When considering awards, you will want to choose the template that best fits the focus of the award and your primary contributions. In most cases, you will be writing the impact statement to show the impact of your scholarship. However, there will be cases when you might want to tailor your statement toward teaching and mentorship or service and leadership.

You will see in several of the sample templates below that the text that I use, I separate the template by 1) Problem, 2) Response, 3) Results, and 4) Impact. You don’t need to include those words (i.e, Problem, Response, Results, and Impact) in your impact statement; I am just including those words to emphasize a possible structure for, or approach to, your statement.

Template 1: Template for excellence in research

Focus: Highlighting the broader societal and academic influence of your scholarly work.

Sample text:

Problem: For decades, the field of [specific field] has struggled to address [a significant problem, e.g., the high rate of misdiagnosis for a certain condition] due to limitations in [e.g., diagnostic technology]. This gap has resulted in [a quantifiable negative impact, e.g., delayed treatment for thousands of patients].

Response: My research team developed and patented a novel [e.g., diagnostic tool or methodology] that uses [innovative approach] to provide [specific improvement, e.g., 95% accuracy in early detection]. This project involved a multi-year collaborative effort with [collaborating institutions or departments].

Results: The immediate outcomes have been substantial. We published over [number] of peer-reviewed articles, including [number] in high-impact journals like [Journal Name], and our work has been cited over [number] times. The technology has been licensed to a biotech company and is currently in [e.g., clinical trials].

Impact: The long-term impact of this work is transformative. By providing a more accurate and rapid diagnostic tool, we are positioned to revolutionize early detection practices, potentially saving countless lives and reducing healthcare costs by an estimated [quantifiable metric, e.g., 30%]. The research has shifted the field's focus towards [new research direction], influencing subsequent work by a new generation of scholars.

Another Template for scholarship and excellence in research:

Dr. [Name] is a formidable scientist who has made transformative achievements in [area of expertise], fundamentally reshaping our understanding of [specific field]. Their groundbreaking studies on [research topic] have had a profound, long-term impact on [public health, environmental policy, technological development, etc.] worldwide. For example, the development of their novel algorithm for [specific application] is now considered a standard in the field and has led to a [quantifiable outcome, e.g., "40% improvement in diagnostic accuracy"] in clinical settings. The value of this work has been recognized by their peers, as evidenced by their election to the National Academy of [Discipline] and the more than [number] citations their publications have received.

Sample using the template:

Dr. XXXXX’s pioneering research on CRISPR-based gene editing has revolutionized the field of genetic medicine. Their work has addressed the major unanswered question of how to minimize off-target effects, a critical barrier to clinical application. By developing new technologies that allowed for the study of genetic regulation, their lab revealed previously unknown aspects of gene expression. These discoveries have enabled the development of three new therapies now in human trials and have made them an internationally recognized leader, frequently invited to give keynote addresses at major conferences.

Again, in most cases, you are likely developing an impact statement for the purpose of promoting the impact of your scholarship. However, there might be times that you want to emphasize your teaching and mentorship, or perhaps your service and leadership. Here are a couple additional impact statement templates that may be used in such cases:

Template 2: Template for excellence in teaching and mentorship

Focus: Emphasizing the impact on student learning and success.

Sample text:

Problem: Introductory courses in [specific subject] traditionally suffer from low student engagement and high attrition rates, with students often failing to connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications. This creates a significant barrier to entry for aspiring majors.

Response: In the [Course Name] course, the curriculum was redesigned to implement an innovative, case-study based approach that directly connects course material to current events in the field. New instructional resources were developed, and a blended learning environment was created to facilitate active, online, and in-class dialogue.

Results: Since implementing these changes in [Year], student evaluations have risen by [percentage], and course completion rates have improved by [percentage]. Student feedback consistently praises the hands-on approach, citing a clearer understanding of complex topics.

Impact: The effect on student learning is both deep and lasting. Former students have reported that these critical thinking skills have directly influenced their career paths and decision-making processes. For example, [Name], a former student, credits the course with their decision to pursue a career in [Field], stating, "[provide a powerful, specific quote]." Furthermore, the framework for the redesigned curriculum has been adopted by three other faculty members, creating a ripple effect across the department.

Template 3: Template for excellence in service and leadership

Focus: Highlighting contributions to the institution or profession.

Sample text:

Problem: When the chair of the [Department/College] Diversity and Inclusion Committee was appointed in [Year], the unit was grappling with [e.g., low representation of underrepresented minorities among faculty and graduate students]. A clear strategic plan and implementation process were lacking.

Response: To address this, a comprehensive, five-year strategic plan for diversity and inclusion was created, collaboratively developed with faculty, students, and staff. The work involved facilitating department-wide workshops, analyzing demographic data, and establishing a new mentorship program.

Results: As a result of these efforts, the number of underrepresented minority graduate students has increased by [percentage] over the last three years. The committee successfully secured a [amount] grant to fund [specific program], which has supported [number] of new initiatives.

Impact: The leadership has not only brought tangible improvements in diversity metrics but has also cultivated a more inclusive and welcoming departmental culture. The inclusive decision-making process has been highlighted as a model of best practice within the university and has strengthened our reputation as an equitable academic community.

Best practices for writing impact statements

Focus on the payoff. Move beyond simply describing your work to explaining what happened because of your work. Start with your biggest achievements.

Know your audience. Avoid jargon and be prepared to explain your work to non-experts. If you are writing the impact statement for a committee that is cross-disciplinary, write for a broad academic readership.

Provide specific evidence. Use concrete examples, data, and, if possible, testimonials. Quantifiable metrics are highly effective.

Connect to award criteria. When specifically crafting your impact statement for an honorifics nomination process, explicitly address how your work aligns with the specific criteria of the award you are seeking. Use the language from the award description.

Tell a story. Frame your contributions as a narrative, describing the "before" (problem) and "after" (impact) to demonstrate change.

Check out go.osu.edu/impactwritingtips for more explanation on impact writing and crafting strong impact statements.