Chapter 6 Faculty Awards Policy

Awards Granted by the Faculty Awards Committee

Each year the Faculty Awards Committee will seek nominations for and vote to give the following awards using criteria, guidelines, and procedures defined below.

1. University of North Carolina Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching: The Awards Committee will select finalists and a nominee for the statewide award.
2. University of North Carolina Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Public Service: The Awards Committee will select finalists and a nominee for the statewide award.
3. University of North Carolina at Pembroke Outstanding Teaching Awards: The Awards Committee will make up to five such awards each year.
4. Adolph L. Dial Endowed Faculty Awards: The Awards Committee will make up to two awards each year for the Dial Award for Scholarship/Creative Work and the Dial Award for Community Service.
5. Faculty Emeritus: The Awards Committee will recommend candidates to the Board of Trustees.
6. University of North Carolina at Pembroke Outstanding Teaching Award for Part-time Faculty: The Awards Committee will make up to one such award each year.

Teaching Awards

Outstanding teaching is recognized by three kinds of awards. The first is the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. The Board of Governors authorizes this award, and one recipient is selected each year. The second is the UNCP Teaching Awards given to up to five faculty members each year. The third is the UNCP Part-Time Teaching Award given to up to one part-time faculty member each year.

The Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching

To underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward and support good teaching in the university, the Board of Governors created system-wide teaching awards designated “Board of Governors’ Awards for Excellence in Teaching.” One recipient is selected annually from each of the 16 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina to receive a stipend and a citation.

Criteria

Outstanding teaching faculty stand out in all areas associated with teaching excellence. Outstanding teachers demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to professional growth. Outstanding teachers are effective through clear course materials and presentations, varied instructional strategies, and suitable measures of student learning. Outstanding teachers are successful at engaging student interest, challenging students, and eliciting high levels of student achievement. The Board of Governor’s Award recognizes long-term teaching excellence while the UNCP Teaching Awards recognize teaching excellence in the two years preceding the granting of the award.

Eligibility

Those eligible for the BOG Award are full-time faculty members with tenure who have taught at least seven years at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The recipient must have demonstrated exceptional teaching ability over a sustained period of time. Nominees must be teaching during the academic year in which they are nominated. A faculty member in Phased Retirement is ineligible for the BOG Award for Teaching Excellence. A faculty member on leave from teaching for one term during the academic year is eligible for consideration for the BOG Award for Teaching Excellence. The Board of Governors’ Award can be granted only once to a faculty member. Nominees for the Board of Governors’ Award who do not receive that award are automatically nominated for the UNCP Teaching Awards in the same year, and finalist not chosen as the UNCP nominee for this award will automatically receive reconsideration for the following BOG Award cycle.

Nominations and Procedures

Each Fall the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee emails a call for nominations with an attached nomination form to the faculty listserv, to the student listserv (via Student Affairs office), and to alumni (via Director of Alumni Relations) and corresponds with nominees according to the suggested schedule (see table below). Faculty, students, administrators and alumni are invited to submit nominations (by mail or electronically) to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. Members of the Faculty Awards Committee cannot submit nominations. The nomination form or letter explains why the nominee deserves this prestigious award. The basis for nomination must be demonstrated excellence in teaching and a record of accomplishments and contributions in teaching over a sustained period of time.

To be considered for the Board of Governors Award a nominee must submit to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee a portfolio of supporting materials in a three-ring binder (1-2 inches) with dividers. Each candidate’s portfolio includes the following materials:

1. a current resume or curriculum vitae
2. copies of self-evaluations for the three years preceding the nomination
3. copies of Department Chair’s evaluations for the three years preceding the nomination
4. a statement of teaching philosophy (approximately four pages, double-spaced), including comments about how the philosophy is carried out in practice and how other professional activities relate to teaching
5. four letters of recommendation from two colleagues and two former students in support of the nomination (the faculty nominee leaves this notebook section empty). BOG candidates should ask that letters of recommendation be sent directly to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee who places these in the portfolio along with the original letter of nomination.
6. copies of syllabi and relevant course materials, including assignments and representative student work, from three different regularly taught course.
7. the summary statistics and the comments from the five most recent sets of student evaluations; a set is defined as evaluations from all courses taught in a given academic year, as described under “Schedule of Student Evaluations” in the Faculty Handbook. (The faculty nominee leaves this notebook section empty and asks the Department Chair or Dean to submit these materials to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee)
8. documentation of any professional activities which exhibit a commitment to teaching beyond the classroom, such as publications, presentations, and grant writing. The Chair of the Awards Committee places the nomination letter, support letters, and the student evaluation reports in the portfolio.

After naming two finalists, the Committee will conduct classroom observations of both finalists. After selecting the BOG nominee, the Committee will forward to the Office of Academic Affairs the portfolio of the nominee and a 500-word letter in support of the nominee. The name of the nominee must remain confidential until the UNC BOG announces the statewide awards. At the Faculty Appreciation Dinner, the BOG Award winner assists the Provost in presenting Faculty Awards.

Responsibilities of Award Recipients

The recipient of the Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching serves as Grand Marshal at Commencement in the year of the award. The recipient is expected to deliver the commencement address at the following Winter Commencement. The recipient of the BOG Award is also available to faculty and students for presentations and workshops on teaching.

The Board of Governors’ James E. Holshouser, Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service

The Board of Governors’ James E. Holshouser, Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service was created in 2007 to encourage, identify, recognize, and reward public service by faculty of the University.

Criteria

Outstanding teaching faculty stand out in all areas associated with teaching excellence. Outstanding teachers demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to professional growth.

Outstanding teachers are effective through clear course materials and presentations, varied instructional strategies, and suitable measures of student learning. Outstanding teachers are successful at engaging student interest, challenging students, and eliciting high levels of student achievement. The Board of Governor’s Award recognizes long-term teaching excellence while the UNCP Teaching Awards recognize teaching excellence in the two years preceding the granting of the award.

Eligibility

• Faculty members of any of the 17 institutions of the University of North Carolina are eligible.
• Sustained, distinguished, and superb achievement in university public service and outreach, and contributions to improving the quality of life of the citizens of North Carolina.
• The creativity and impact of a nominee’s achievements are of a magnitude that greatly exceeds the normal accomplishments of a productive faculty.

Nominations and Procedures

Each spring the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee emails a call for nominations with an attached nomination form to the faculty listserv, to the student listserv (via Student Affairs office), and to alumni (via Director of Alumni Relations) and corresponds with nominees according to the suggested schedule (see table below). Faculty, students, administrators and alumni are invited to submit nominations (by mail or electronically) to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. Members of the Faculty Awards Committee cannot submit nominations. The nomination form or letter explains why the nominee deserves this prestigious award. The basis for nomination must be demonstrated excellence in public service and a record of accomplishments and contributions in public service over a sustained period of time.

To be considered for the Board of Governors Award, a nominee must submit to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee a portfolio of supporting materials in a three-ring binder (1-2 inches) with dividers. Each candidate’s portfolio includes the following materials:

1. a current resume or curriculum vitae
2. a copy of the self-evaluation from the two most recent academic years
3. a summary self-evaluation of community service in recent years
4. documentation of service activities, such as conference programs, flyers, Brave Bulletin coverage, photo/videos, and/or newspaper articles, where available and appropriate
5. one letter of documentation from a qualified individual, such as a partner in one major area of public service; the letter addresses the writer’s connection with the nominee and accesses the quality of the nominee’s contributions
6. other accomplishments relevant to the award for no longer than the past seven years.

After selecting the BOG nominee, the Committee will forward to the Office of Academic Affairs the portfolio of the nominee and a 500-word letter in support of the nominee. The nominee will go on to be eligible for the state-wide award given in October.

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Outstanding Teaching Awards

To underscore the importance of teaching and to encourage, identify, recognize, reward, and support good teaching in the University, the Board of Governors funds up to five UNC Pembroke Outstanding Teaching awards each year.

Criteria

Outstanding teaching faculty stand out in all areas associated with teaching excellence. Outstanding teachers demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to professional growth. Outstanding teachers are effective through clear course materials and presentations, varied instructional strategies, and suitable measures of student learning. Outstanding teachers are successful at engaging student interest, challenging students, and eliciting high levels of student achievement. The UNCP Outstanding Teaching Awards recognize excellence in the two years preceding the granting of the award.

Eligibility

Those eligible for the UNCP Outstanding Teaching Award are full-time teaching faculty who have taught at UNCP for at least two years prior to the year of nomination. Nominees must hold full-time faculty appointments in the current year. Nominees must have received no teaching awards at UNCP in the previous four years.

Nominations and Procedures

Each Spring the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee emails a call for nominations with an attached nomination form to the faculty listserv, to the student listserv (via Student Affairs office), and to alumni (via Director of Alumni Relations) and corresponds with nominees according to the suggested schedule (see table below). Faculty, students, administrators, staff members and alumni are invited to submit nominations (by mail or electronically) to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. Members of the Faculty Awards Committee cannot submit nominations. The nomination form or letter explains why the nominee deserves this award. The basis for nomination must be teaching excellence in the two years preceding the granting of the award. Nominees for the Board of Governors’ Award who do not receive that award are automatically nominated for the UNCP Teaching Awards. To be considered for the UNCP Teaching Award, a nominee must submit to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee a portfolio of supporting materials in a three-ring binder (1-2 inches) with dividers. Each candidate’s portfolio includes the following materials:

1. a current resume or curriculum vitae
2. copies of self-evaluations for the two years preceding the nomination
3. copies of department chair’s evaluations for the two years preceding the nomination
4. a statement of teaching philosophy (approximately four pages, double-spaced), including comments about how the philosophy is carried out in practice and how other professional activities relate to teaching
5. copies of syllabi and relevant course materials (e.g. handouts, tests, student papers/projects) from three regularly taught courses
6. the summary statistics and comments from the two most recent sets of student evaluations (a “set” is all of the courses taught in a given semester)
7. two letters of recommendation from one colleague and one former student in support of the nomination (the faculty nominee leaves this notebook section empty). Candidates should ask that letters of recommendation be sent directly to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee who places these in the portfolio along with the original letter of nomination.

The Chair of the Awards Committee places the nomination letter at the front of the portfolio. After the Committee selects the Award recipients, the Chair notifies the Office of Academic Affairs, the award recipients, and candidates who did not receive awards. At the Faculty Recognition Dinner in May, the Provost recognizes Award recipients. Award recipients will receive an honorarium.

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke Outstanding Teaching Award for Part Time Faculty

This award was created in spring 2010 to recognize the achievements and successes of part time faculty.

Criteria

Like full time faculty, outstanding part time teachers demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to professional growth, are effective through clear course materials and presentations, and demonstrate varied instructional strategies. Outstanding part time teachers are successful at engaging student interest, challenging students, and eliciting high levels of student achievement.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the UNCP Outstanding Teaching Award for Part Time Faculty, a nominee must currently be teaching less than a four course load and must have taught at UNCP for at least two years prior to the year of nomination. Recipients may not be eligible to win this award again for three full academic years.

Nominations and Procedures

Each spring, the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee e-mails a call for nominations with an attached nomination form to the faculty listserv, to the student listserv (via Student Affairs office), and to alumni (via Director of Alumni Relations) and corresponds with nominees according to the suggested schedule (see table below). Faculty, students, administrators, staff members, and alumni are invited to submit nominations (by mail or electronically) to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. Members of the Faculty Awards Committee cannot submit nominations. The nomination form or letter explains why the nominee deserves this award.

To be considered for the UNCP Teaching Award for Part Time Faculty, a nominee must submit to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee a portfolio of supporting materials in a three-ring binder (1-2 inches) with dividers. Each candidate’s portfolio includes the following materials:

1. a current resume or curriculum vitae
2. copies of self-evaluations for the two years preceding the nomination
3. copies of department chair’s evaluations for the two years preceding the nomination
4. a statement of teaching philosophy (approximately four pages, double-spaced), including comments about how the philosophy is carried out in practice and how other professional activities relate to teaching
5. copies of syllabi and relevant course materials (e.g. handouts, tests, student papers/projects) from three regularly taught courses
6. the summary statistics and comments from the two most recent sets of student evaluations (a “set” is all of the courses taught in a given semester) The Chair of the Awards Committee places the nomination letter at the front of the portfolio.
7. two letters of recommendation from one colleague and one former student in support of the nomination (the faculty nominee leaves this notebook section empty). Candidates should ask that letters of recommendation be sent directly to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee who places these in the portfolio along with the original letter of nomination.

After the Committee selects the Award recipient, the Chair notifies the Office of Academic Affairs, the award recipients, and candidates who did not receive awards. At the Faculty Recognition Dinner in May, the Provost recognizes Award recipients. Award recipients will receive an honorarium.

Adolph L. Dial Endowed Awards

The Adolph L. Dial Awards have been established to recognize and honor outstanding UNC Pembroke faculty members who have distinguished themselves in one of the following areas: Scholarship/Creative Work and Community Service. One award in each area may be presented at fall convocation each year. Each recipient will receive an honorarium.

Dial Awards Eligibility

1. The recipients must be members of the full-time teaching faculty of The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
2. The recipients must be in current service at the University, and the award must be presented for work performed while in service at the University.
3. The award must be presented for work performed while in service at the University
4. An award recipient shall be eligible to receive the same award a second time after a period of seven years.

Dial Awards Criteria

1. Award for Scholarship/Creative Work: Scholarship includes activities/accomplishments such as publication in peer reviewed journals in one’s discipline, scholarly books within one’s discipline, chapters within scholarly books, grant applications, presentations of scholarship at meetings of professional organizations within one’s discipline. Creative work includes activities/accomplishments such as painting, sculpture, film, drama, musical composition, choreography of a dance, poetry, a novel, creative reporting, or creative media programming.
2. Award for Community Service: Community Service involves significant accomplishments/activities that make use of one’s professional skills to benefit the community and the region served by the University.

Dial Awards Nominations and Procedures

Each spring the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee emails a call for nominations with an attached nomination from to the faculty listserv, to the student listserv (via Student Affairs office), and to alumni (via Director of Alumni Relations) and corresponds with nominees according to the suggested schedule (see table below). Faculty, students, administrators, and alumni are invited to submit nominations (by mail or electronically) to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. Members of the Faculty Awards Committee cannot submit nominations. The nomination form or letter explains why the nominee deserves this award.

To be considered for the Dial Award for Scholarship or Creative Work, a nominee must submit to the Chair of the Faculty Awards Committee a portfolio in a three-ring binder (1-2 inches) including the following materials:

1. a current resume or curriculum vitae
2. copies of self-evaluations for the two most recent academic years
3. A few samples of recent scholarship or creative work, such as refereed journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, or programs from juried shows or performances.
4. A brief explanation from the candidate about the quality of the venues (publishers, journals, professional meetings, conferences, performances, galleries, exhibits) in which scholarly or creative works appear.
5. One letter of support from a qualified peer in the nominee’s discipline, which addresses the writer’s connection with the nominee and the field of study and accessed the quality of the nominee’s work and/or the quality of the venue in which it appears
6. Reviews of work in professional publication, by recognized critics or experts, peer reviewed shows, newspaper or magazine reviews of creative work, and/or letters of acceptance for juried exhibits or productions (if available).

A Candidate for the Dial Award for Community Service may submit to the Teaching and Learning Center a portfolio in a three-ring binder (1-2 inches) with the following materials:

1. a current resume/curriculum vitae
2. a copy of the self-evaluation from the two most recent academic years
3. a summary self-evaluation of community service in recent years
4. documentation of service activities, such as conference programs, flyers, Brave Bulletin coverage, photo/videos, and/or newspaper articles, where available and appropriate
5. One letter of documentation from a qualified individual, such as a partner in one major area of community service; the letter addresses the writer’s connection with the nominee and accesses the quality of the nominee’s contributions
6. other accomplishments relevant to the award for no longer than the past seven years.

The Chair of the Awards Committee places the nomination letter at the front of each portfolio. After the Committee selects the Award recipients, the Chair notifies the Office of Academic Affairs, the award recipients, and candidates who did not receive awards. At the Faculty Recognition Dinner in May, the Provost recognizes Award recipients. Suggested Schedule for Dial Awards:
 

Professor Emeritus Status

Professor Emeritus shall be an honorary designation for those faculty members and administrative personnel who have retired after at least ten years of distinguished service to The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. The Department Chair and/or peers in the academic community shall be nominated the candidate. This designation requires the recommendation of the Faculty Awards Committee and the Chancellor of the University; the Board of Trustees must approve it. Professor Emeritus status can also be conferred by direct action by the Board of Trustees.

Criteria for Consideration as Professor Emeritus

Faculty Emeritus status shall be conferred only upon those persons whose contributions and service to the University, in the judgment of the University Awards Committee, have been distinguished. Those retirees eligible for consideration include full-time faculty with rank, professional administrative personnel who have earned academic rank, and administrative personnel who have been awarded rank in honor of their contributions to the University. The minimum length of service for the nominees eligible to be considered is ten years at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Faculty members must have completed phased retirement before consideration for emeritus status.

Criteria for Awarding Emeritus Status

In reviewing the records of nominees, the University Awards Committee will consider such criteria as:

1. Outstanding performance as a teacher.
2. Significant contribution to the University.
3. Significant professional contributions (research, creative works, etc.).
4. Significant contribution to the community.

Procedure

At the beginning of the fall semester of each academic year, the Chair of the University Awards Committee will ask for nominations of eligible candidates for the honor of Professor Emeritus. Individuals cannot nominate themselves. A letter of nomination must include a complete rationale for the nomination for that specific award. Letters may be delivered electronically. The Committee will solicit the following:

1. A vita from the candidate.
2. Self-Evaluations from the last five years of employment prior to phased or full retirement.
3. A one to two page summary from the candidate of salient contributions during tenure at UNCP.
4. A letter of recommendation (in addition to the letter of nomination), preferably from the department chair or a long standing colleague, that offers a specific assessment of the nominee’s teaching, scholarship and service.

The Committee will forward to the Office of Academic Affairs portfolios of candidates who are recommended along with a statement of support for each candidate recommend for emeritus status. At the Faculty Recognition Dinner in May, the Provost shall announce the names of those persons approved by the Board of Trustees and awarded emeritus status.

Faculty Awards Committee

Membership of the Faculty Awards Committee

1. The Faculty Awards Committee has seven elected faculty members.
2. Faculty representatives on the committee are elected for staggered two-year terms. Two members are elected to represent faculty-at-large. The two at-large members are to be elected from two departments not represented among the divisional members. Five members are elected, one from each division. All are elected by the general faculty. Faculty Awards Committee members will be elected according to the procedures outlined in Article V, Sect. 2 A.1 and 2 of the Faculty Senate Bylaws.
3. Membership on the committee will be restricted to full-time faculty and those participating in phased retirement who have been teaching at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke for at least two years.

Election and Operation of the Faculty Awards Committee

1. The Committee on Committees and Elections of the Faculty Senate will conduct at-large elections of members to this committee on a staggered two-year basis. A person may serve two, but no more than two, consecutive two-year terms.
2. The committee chair will be elected by the committee from among the returning members  at the last meeting of each year.
3. Members cannot be considered for any award during their terms of service.
4. The Faculty Awards Committee should regularly review the criteria, guidelines, and procedures for nomination and selection relating to all faculty awards, and it should recommend changes to the Faculty Senate.
5. Members of the Faculty Awards Committee cannot nominate anyone for an award, nor can they write letters of recommendation for anyone considered for an award.
6. The Faculty Awards Committee will publicize the availability of the various awards each year in order to insure an adequate pool of nominees for each award. Requests for nominations should be widely distributed.