November 10, 2005
Nominations sought for annual awards
Nominations are now being solicited for the University’s annual awards — awards that 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.
The David B. Thorud Leadership Award is new this year, and honors the longtime service of Thorud, who served for a number of years as dean of the College of Forest Resources and most recently was the acting provost. The award will be given to one faculty member and one staff member at the University.
Awardees are chosen 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.
The award was created with an endowment fund to which the deans unanimously contributed. The University matched those gifts to honor and acknowledge Thorud’s long record of leadership. 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 Laurie Houck, Box 351246. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 13.
The Distinguished Teaching Award, given once during the winners’ lifetime, honors several professors based on a number of criteria, including but not limited to the ability to engage students both within and outside the classroom; innovative course and curriculum design; ability to rouse independent and original thinking in students and mastery of the subject matter. Recipients will receive a $5,000 award. In addition, the Excellence in Teaching Award is given to two graduate teaching assistants for their demonstration of extraordinary ability in the teaching/learning process as a graduate TA. Recipients will receive a $2,500 award.
The S. Sterling Munro Public Service Teaching Award, thanks to a generous gift from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, is given annually to a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in community-based instruction, including public service internships and community partnership projects. The faculty member recognized, in addition to the $5,000 award, will be given funding for a graduate student to work with during his or her award year by the Office of Undergraduate Education.
The James D. Clowes Teaching Award for Advancing Learning Communities honors a faculty or staff member who transforms undergraduate learning at the UW by creating or sustaining learning communities among students. Faculty and staff of the UW are eligible to receive a Clowes Award. The president will recognize the faculty or staff member with an award of $3,000. In addition, the Office of Undergraduate Education will award $2,000 to the recipient’s program or department to support student participation in learning communities.
The Brotman Award for Instructional Excellence, established by the President’s Office in 1998 thanks to a generous gift from Jeffrey and Susan Brotman, is given to academic units or groups of people who have achieved excellence in teaching and fostered excellent learning throughout a program of study. Programs, departments or groups of faculty and/or staff within the University are eligible to receive an award. Individual Brotman Awards range from $10,000 to $35,000, depending upon the number of awards given in a year. Recipients may use the award money in any way that improves undergraduate education consistent with the mission and spirit of the award.
To nominate a faculty member, graduate teaching assistant and/or department for the teaching, Munro, Clowes or Brotman awards, submit a letter no more than one or two pages long specifying examples of the nominee’s attributes. The letter should be submitted to: 2006 Teaching Awards Selection Committee, Office of Undergraduate Education, 220 Mary Gates Hall, Box 352800. Specify the name of the award on the submission letter along with your name, address (postal or campus) and/or e-mail address. The deadline for all nominations is Friday, Dec. 9. Nominations are also accepted via the Web at: http://www.washington.edu/oue/academy/awards.html.
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 lhong@uwb.edu. The UWB deadline is Friday, Dec. 16.
Nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award at UW Tacoma should be addressed to the UWT Distinguished Teaching Award Committee and should be received in the Office of the Chancellor (GWP 312) by Friday, Jan. 13, 2006. See http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/chancellor/dta.html.
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. 6, 2006. For further information, go to http://www.grad.washington.edu/mentor/.
The Distinguished Staff Award (DSA) 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 16,000 classified, contract, and professional staff.
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. Anyone currently affiliated with the UW — faculty, staff, or student — may nominate a staff person for this award by filling out a nomination form and writing a letter of no more than two pages. Three supporting letters from people who know the nominee should be included.
Full details of the award and the new and improved online nomination process may be found on the DSA Web site at: http://www.washington.edu/president/evp/dsa/. Paper nominations should be submitted to Box 351235 or dropped off in 306 Gerberding. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15.
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, Office of the Provost, Box 351241 or by e-mailing uwserv@u.washington.edu. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 13, 2006.
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.
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 Monday, Jan. 16, 2006.
All award winners will be honored at the annual Recognition Ceremony, scheduled this year for 3 p.m. Thursday, June 8 in Meany Hall.
