November 1, 2007
Rewarding good work: Nomination time again for University’s annual awards
Nominations are now being solicited for the University’s annual awards, which honor outstanding teachers, staff, mentors and those engaged in leadership and public service. In some cases, teams or departments may be nominated as well as individuals. Awards are administered by a variety of groups on campus. Below is a brief description of each award and instructions on how to submit a nomination.
Distinguished Teaching Award — given to seven faculty members — including one each from UW Bothell and Tacoma — who have demonstrated an ability to engage students both within and outside of the classroom. Along with top honors, recipients receive a $5,000 stipend.
Excellence in Teaching Award — given to two graduate teaching assistants with a $5,000 stipend and recognizes their demonstration of extraordinary ability in the teaching/learning process as a graduate TA.
S. Sterling Munro Public Service Teaching Award — given annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in community-based instruction, including public service internships and community partnership projects. Included is a $5,000 stipend as well as graduate assistant funding for the award year.
James D. Clowes Award for the Advancement of Learning Communities — recognizes a faculty or staff member who is transforming the traditional classroom experience beyond the norm. Included is a $3,000 stipend along with $2,000 to the recipient’s program.
These four awards (excluding UWB and UWT Distinguished Teachers) are all administered by the Distinguishing Teaching Awards Selection Committee through Undergraduate Academic Affairs. To begin the nomination process, write a one-page letter nominating a faculty, staff member, graduate student or program. Send your nominations to: 2008 Distinguished Teaching Awards Selection Committee, Mary Gates Hall, Box 352800. Nominations may also be submitted on-line at: http://www.washington.edu/uaa/teachingacademy/awards.html. Letters of nomination must specify the award sought and include the nominee’s departmental information. The deadline for all nominations is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.
For questions regarding these four awards, please call 206-616-7175 or e-mail dta@u.washington.edu.
Nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award at UW Bothell and UW Tacoma are submitted separately. Nominations at UW Bothell should be sent to the Office of Academic Affairs, c/o DTA, Box 358522 or by e-mail at daldrich@uwb.edu. See http://www.uwb.edu/academic/teaching/uwb_awards.xhtml The UWB deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14.
Nominations for the UW Tacoma Distinguished Teaching Award should be addressed to the UW Tacoma Distinguished Teaching Award Committee and e-mailed to academic@u.washington.edu no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2008. See http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/academic_affairs/dta.html.
The Distinguished Staff Award honors superior sustained service; excellence in the performance of job duties; contributions to a positive, collaborative work environment; exemplary service to others; and exceptional resourcefulness, innovation or creativity. Each year, five awards of $5,000 are presented to outstanding staff chosen from among the University’s 19,000 classified, contract and professional staff (including non-faculty librarians). All nominees for the award are honored at a campuswide reception in February.
The Distinguished Staff Award is open to staff who have been employed at least half-time for a minimum of six months as of the nomination closing date. Teams of up to six people may also be nominated. The nomination process includes a nomination form, a two-page nomination letter and three one-page support letters. Winners will be chosen by a committee under the sponsorship of the vice president for human resources. Full details of the award and the online nomination process may be found on the DSA Web site at: http://www.washington.edu/president/evp/dsa/. The deadline for Distinguished Staff Award nominations is 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17.
The Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award — sponsored by the Graduate School — recognizes a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to the education and guidance of graduate students. The criteria include providing intellectual leadership, actively involving students in research, conferences and publications, helping students to overcome problems and alerting students to career opportunities. The awardee receives $5,000. Nominators are encouraged to cite specific examples of excellent mentoring by the faculty member. Letters of nomination may not exceed two pages. The letter should include the nominee’s department and current mailing address. It is preferred that nomination letters be submitted as attachments to e-mail to dgma@grad.washington.edu. For those who cannot send nominations by e-mail, hard copies may be sent to The Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award committee, G-1 Communications Building, Box 353770. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 4, 2008. For more information, go to http://www.grad.washington.edu/mentor/.
The Outstanding Public Service Award is given to honor the recipient’s contribution to improving the quality of life locally, nationally or internationally through public service. Both faculty and staff are eligible to be nominated, and the winner receives $5,000. To nominate someone, write a letter of up to two pages describing the nature, extent and impact of the service, the period in which the activity occurred and a description of the effort involved. The letter should also specify whether the nominee received compensation for the activity.
Nominations may be accompanied by a maximum of three one-page letters of support. Send nominations to Gus Kravas, chair, Outstanding Public Service Award Committee, 239M Gerberding Hall, Box 351241. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 25, 2008.
The David B. Thorud Leadership Award is given to one faculty member and one staff member at the University, based on a variety of criteria that demonstrate leadership, including exhibiting — through project work, team work or other service — courage, the ability to find practical solutions for complex problems, teamwork and excellent listening skills. The final candidates will be those who: demonstrate quality work that sets an example while including others, value and respect the well-being of people in achieving large-scale goals, and exhibit an openness to new ideas and partnerships.
The award may be given to a faculty or staff member only once in his/her lifetime. Deans, associate deans, vice provosts and vice presidents are not eligible. Each winner will receive $2,500.
To nominate someone for this award, send a one-page letter to the Thorud Leadership Selection Committee, c/o Mindy Kornberg, Box 354554, or e-mail mindyk@u.washington.edu. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 15, 2008.
The Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award honors faculty who have taught or designed courses, seminars or workshops aimed at working adults and other nontraditional students, and who have received excellent teaching evaluations for that work. Nominees must have been engaged in lifelong learning activities for at least two years. The winner receives $5,000.
To nominate someone for this award, write a supporting letter indicating the range and scope of the candidate’s contributions to lifelong learning and include supporting evidence, such as teaching evaluations. Nominations should be sent to Dave Szatmary, vice provost, Educational Outreach, Box 354978. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 1, 2008.
Even as current UW faculty and staff who deserve honors are being sought, the Alumni Association is looking for former students for its annual Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award. Established in 1938, the award recognizes graduates who have made profound contributions not only to their fields, but to society as a whole. It is the highest honor the UW bestows upon its graduates.
To nominate someone for the ASLD, send the nominee’s contact information, a description of why the nominee should receive the award and any supporting documents (curriculum vitae, newspaper clippings, publications, etc.) to: Charles Blumenfeld, UW Alumni Association, 1415 N.E. 45th Street, Seattle, WA 98105. Nominations can also be made online. Go to http://www.washington.edu/alumni/awards/asld/index.html. The deadline is Friday, Dec. 17.
President Mark Emmert will announce the award winners in March. They will be honored at the annual Recognition Ceremony, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2008, in Meany Hall. A reception follows in the Walker-Ames Room.
