• Graduate — alumni of Dakota Wesleyan University whose achievements as a DWU student were extraordinary and merit recognition. To be considered for this category, the alumni must be five years post-graduation.
• Educator — a former Dakota Wesleyan University educator whose accomplishments as a DWU instructor/director merit recognition.
• Patron/Donor — an individual or a group of individuals who have made outstanding philanthropic contributions to Dakota Wesleyan University Performing Arts. The contributions have greatly advanced, developed, and fostered growth within the DWU Performing Arts programs.
• Professional Achievement — alumni of Dakota Wesleyan who has excelled and attained superior merit in their professional field of study in the performing arts sector. 
• Legacy Performer/Performance — a former Dakota Wesleyan University performer/performance that made an impactful impression at Dakota Wesleyan University. This performer/performance should be recognized due to their success and should only be considered if the group has or had been recognized at a regional or national level.

• All nominees should show significant contributions within the field of the performing arts.
• All nominees must exemplify the highest standards of sincerity, ethical conduct, and moral character.
• All nominees shall be considered on the merits of contributions and achievements to Dakota Wesleyan University Performing Arts. Professionalism and success later in life will be consisdered as well. 
• All nominees in the Graduate, Educator, Patron/Donor, Professional Achievement, and Legacy Performer/Performance shall have significant and/or long-term contributions to performing arts. Longevity without significant accomplishments does not constitute appropriate credentials for Hall of Fame consideration.
• Posthumous nominations will be accepted and considered.
• The nominee must be five years post-graduation from Dakota Wesleyan University.

Additional Guidelines

In the Educators category, the following additional guidelines have been developed to help in selecting individuals. These are merely guidelines and not hard-and-fast criteria:

• Viewed as innovative leader within respective area/field of study.
• Accomplishments beyond “simply doing the job.”
• Significant impact on DWU Performing Arts Programs and/or significant to the field of performing arts.

In the Professional Achievement category, the following guidelines have been developed to help in selecting individuals. These are merely guidelines and not hard-and-fast criteria:

• Overall contributions – high school, college, professional career description (background pertaining to professional involvement in the performing arts: speech, theatre, debate, music activities); performing or professional career positions or any training/teaching positions, tenure, years of service, publications.
• Service both to the performing arts/curricular and/or co-curricular activities.
• Contributions/organization and continuance of an activity program.
• Significant and ongoing contributions to the field.
• Contributions to the profession both in and out of the Dakota Wesleyan University community.
• Personal and professional achievements.
• Leadership in local, regional, state, and national organizations and professional organizations.
• Continuation in the profession – education, politics, entertainment, literalist, performer, director, teaching, other.

In the Patron/Donor category, the following guidelines have been developed to help in selecting individuals. These are merely guidelines and not hard-and-fast criteria:

• Generosity and Scale of Support: magnitude of the donor's financial contributions to the arts.
• Diversity of Support: provided financial support to a diverse range of arts disciplines, genres, and organizations.
• Sustained Support: demonstrated consistent and sustained financial support over an extended period of time.
• Transformational Impact: financial support that has led to transformative changes within the arts organizations or projects they have funded.
• Access and Inclusion: support has contributed to improving access to the arts for underrepresented and marginalized communities.
• Matching and Challenge Grants: used matching grants or challenge grants to encourage broader community involvement and additional contributions to the arts.
• Support for Infrastructure: financial contributions have helped improve the infrastructure and facilities of arts organizations.
• Advocacy and Leadership: has taken an active role in advocating for the arts and promoting the value within the community.
• Recognition and Acknowledgment: financial contributions have been recognized and acknowledged by the arts organizations, artists, and communities they have supported.
• Adaptability to Changing Needs: demonstrated flexibility in responding to the evolving needs of the arts sector, especially during challenging times or periods of change.
• Philanthropic Innovation: introduced new and creative ways of giving that have set positive examples for others in the philanthropic community.