June 2021 | ACES Awards | College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

Runge Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award

The Runge Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes the professional career of a faculty member for their work and achievements in teaching, research and publications, extension and outreach, faculty governance, professional associations and service to the college and campus.

The award is supported by the U of I Foundation Pat and Ed Runge Distinguished Faculty Award endowment. Dr. Ed Runge was one of the most visible agronomists in the last half of the 20th century. He received his BS (Ag Ed) and MS (Soils) degrees from the University of Illinois and a PhD (Soils) from Iowa State University. He served on the faculty at Iowa State University (1959-1963), and the University of Illinois (1963-1973); was Professor and Chairman of the Agronomy Department at the University of Missouri (1973-80); was Professor and Department Head of the Soil & Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University (1980-1999); was Visiting Professor at the University of Illinois (2000); was Billie Turner Chair in Production Agronomy (2000-2005); and received ACES Alumni Award of Merit (2001). Presently (2022) Ed Runge was Program Director and Judging Panel Chair for Monsanto’s Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program at Texas A&M University to train PhD students in rice and wheat breeding.

Pat Runge is a retired registered nurse (BS DePauw) and an award-winning volunteer. They are most proud of their 2 children, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

The Award

Each year the college may present one Runge Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award, which includes a $5,000 award, an etched crystal award, and a certificate of recognition. The recipient will be asked to provide a stewardship report to the donor, via the ACES Office of Advancement, indicating how the funds were used.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a member of the tenured or specialized faculty at the associate or full professor rank in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for the academic year in which the award will be presented; and have less than ten years at that level.

Individuals on disability, sabbatical leave, and leave without pay are not eligible during leave; however, these leaves are not considered interruptions of service time for subsequent years. Members of the faculty who are full-time administrators are not eligible for the award.

A faculty member may receive the Runge Faculty Distinguished Achievement only once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

The nominee must be declared eligible by the unit head. Each department may only nominate one nominee per award. The nomination must be submitted electronically by the department contact before the nomination deadline.

Nomination packets must include all materials described below in a single PDF and should be formatted in at least 11-point Calibri or equivalent font; single-spaced; and 1-inch margins. Please follow this outline when submitting a nomination:

1. Nomination cover sheet (you must download the form from Box to complete it). The cover sheet includes biographical and statistical information including education, employment record, and relevant affiliations.

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should include major contributions detailing the nominee’s outstanding achievements in teaching, research, extension and outreach, faculty governance, professional associations, and service to college. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. Curriculum vitae

4. Letters of support: No more than four letters of support from individuals other than the nominator, such as past or present colleagues or collaborators. One letter must be from a current ACES faculty/staff member (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated on sustained and comprehensive excellence in the academic performances heretofore identified as central to the land-grant mission. The award recipient will be selected by a selection committee from the college faculty. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation.

The selection committee may decide against granting an award if no meritorious candidate has been nominated. The selection committee shall submit its recommendations for a recipient to the dean. The dean shall notify the recipient, the appropriate associate dean, and unit head.

Louis V. Logeman Graduate Student Teaching Award

The Louis V. Logeman Graduate Student Teaching Award recognizes graduate students who excel as teachers in the classroom and/or laboratory instruction in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This award honors Louis V. Logeman, a 1907 graduate of the college.

The Award

Each year the college presents two Louis V. Logeman Graduate Student Teaching Awards. Recipients receive a $1,000 personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees must have been enrolled as a graduate student in good academic standing in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences during the academic year of the nomination. Nominees must have been involved in classroom instruction (including laboratory and discussion sections if relevant) for a minimum of one year (two semesters) or the equivalent in the current degree program.

A student may only receive the Louis V. Logeman Graduate Student Teaching Award once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

1. Nomination cover sheet: (you must download the form from Box to complete it). The coversheet includes biographical and statistical information including education, employment record, and relevant affiliations.

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should present the case for the nominee in the following areas: 1) comments from departmental colleagues demonstrating the importance of the nominee’s courses to the instructional program of the unit, the nominee’s overall impact on undergraduates (both past and present) 2) selected comments from evaluation forms. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. ICES Scores

4. Letters of support: No more than two letters of support from individuals having knowledge about the nominee’s teaching activities and no more than two letters of support from former students (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated in terms of consistent excellent performance; impact on students; innovative approaches to teaching; other contributions to improved instruction, including curriculum and course development; and professional contributions to the academic community. The award recipient will be selected by a selection committee from the college faculty. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation.

Graduate Student Research Award

The Graduate Student Research Award recognizes demonstrated excellence in research activities in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

The Award

Each year the college presents two Graduate Student Research Awards, one at the master’s level and at most two at the doctorate level. Recipients receive a $1,000 personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees for the Graduate Student Research Award must have been enrolled as a graduate student in good academic standing in the College of ACES the during the academic year of the nomination. The nominee must have been involved in research for a minimum of one year (two semesters) or the equivalent in the current degree program.

A student who receives a Graduate Student Research Award as a master’s student will be eligible for the Graduate Student Research Award as a doctoral candidate when the criteria are met. Recipients may receive the award only once per degree.

Nominations

Nomination packets must include all materials described below in a single pdf. and should be formatted in at least 11-point Calibri or equivalent font; single-spaced; and 1-inch margins. Please follow this outline when submitting a nomination:

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should include contributions in the following areas, evaluating the work in the context of the norms and constraints of their discipline; 1) Quantity and quality of research output (use quartile rankings of journals if publications present) * note that M.S. nominees do not need to have publications accepted at the time of nomination. Include standards for the field of study 2) Potential impact and importance of research of research output 3) Leadership role the student played in research activities (examples include original development of research idea, leadership in lab, efforts to gain funding or awards, etc.) 4) Communication of research: presentations to scholarly audiences and/or stakeholders 5) Mentoring and education activities related to the research (optional). It is most critical to show evidence of the student’s own efforts/activities. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion should be noted. Please use a category heading for each of the contribution areas (six page maximum)

3. Letters of support: No more than three letter of support from individuals other than the nominator. One letter must be from faculty or research professionals with knowledge of the nominee’s research activities. One letter must be from the nominee’s research advisor or
another member of their research committee or team (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominations will be evaluated in terms of exceptional scholarly promise, taking the form of recent discovery and dissemination of new knowledge; the development of innovative technology, or the development of concepts that lead to significant advances in science or education. Nominees’ records will be evaluated for excellence relative to the norms of their disciplines and the potential for their research to have positive impacts in the future. Award recipients will be selected by the appropriate college level advisory/policy committee appointed from the college faculty. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for its operation.

Service Recognition Award

The Service Recognition Award recognizes outstanding service to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences by individuals such as adjunct professors, USDA, or Illinois Survey scientists affiliated with the college.

The Award

Each year the college may present one Service Recognition Award. The award includes a $1,000 personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees for the Service Recognition Award must have the rank or title of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or adjunct professor. They must not be tenured or receiving probationary credit toward tenure in the college, and they must receive no salary from the college or any unit in the college. Their relationship with the college must have existed for at least five years prior to the nomination.

Individuals may only receive the Service Recognition Award once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

1. Nomination cover sheet: (you must download the form from Box to complete it). The cover sheet includes biographical and statistical information including education, employment record, and relevant affiliations.

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should include major contributions to the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. Letters of support: No more than three letters of support from individuals other than the nominator, such as past or present colleagues, collaborators (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated on their achievement and total performance in support of the college. The award recipient will be selected by a selection committee from the college faculty. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation.

Staff Award for Excellence and the Marcella M. Nance Staff Award

The Staff Award for Excellence and the Marcella M. Nance Staff Award recognize civil service support staff of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for excellence in performance.

The Award

Each year the college presents up to three Staff Awards for Excellence, one of which is the Marcella M. Nance Staff Award. Each award includes a $500 personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees for the Staff Awards for Excellence and the Marcella M. Nance Staff Award must be a civil service employee (traditional or professional) who has held a full-time appointment with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for at least three consecutive years.

An individual may receive the Staff Award for Excellence or the Marcella M. Nance Staff Award only once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should include major contributions detailing how these advance teaching, advising, research, and/or service missions and explain the work’s impact in the following areas: 1) personal contributions to others including faculty, staff, students, and members of the public and an explanation of the way in which the nominee meets the special demands of his or her workplace and 2) professional contributions, including recognition received, participation in professional societies, and committee work. Please use a category heading for each of the three contribution areas. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. Letters of support: No more than three letters of support from individuals other than the nominator, such as past or present colleagues, collaborators. One letter must be from a current ACES faculty/staff member (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated on their achievements and total performance in support of the college. The award recipient will be selected by a selection committee. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation.

Professional Staff Award for Excellence

The Professional Staff Award for Excellence recognizes outstanding performance and demonstrated professional excellence by members of the professional staff of the college. The award for Innovation and Creativity recognizes a special initiative; awards Advising, Teaching and Outreach; Research; and Administration/Management or Technical contributions are presented for exceptionally outstanding and meritorious work over an extended period.

The Award

Each year the College presents four individual Professional Staff Award for Excellence in each of the following categories: Innovation and Creativity; Advising, Teaching and Outreach; Research, and Administration/Management or Technical Contributions. Each award includes a $500 personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees for the Professional Staff Awards must be academic professional or civil service professional personnel who has held a full-time appointment with the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for at least three consecutive years.

Individuals on disability, sabbatical leave, and leave without pay are not eligible during leave; however, these leaves are not considered interruptions of service time for subsequent years.

Staff may receive each award only once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

1. Nomination cover sheet: (you must download the form from Box to complete it). The cover sheet includes biographical and statistical information including education, employment record, and relevant affiliations.

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should include major contributions detailing how the nominees work advance teaching, advising, research, and/or service missions and explain the work’s impact in the following areas: 1) personal contributions to others including faculty, staff, students, and members of the public and an explanation of the way in which the nominee meets the special demands of his or her workplace and 2) professional contributions, including recognition received, conference presentations, publications, participation in professional societies, and committee work. Please use a category heading for each of the contribution areas. In addition, there should be a discussion of the nominee’s impact at the regional, national, or international level, if applicable. Contributions to the unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion goals should be noted as applicable (six page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated, and the award recipient will be selected by a selection committee. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation. The selection committee will consider the nominee’s achievement and total performance in support of the college or any of its units.

The selection committee may decide against granting an award if no meritorious candidate has been nominated. The selection committee shall submit its recommendations for a recipient to the dean. The dean shall notify the recipient, the appropriate associate dean and unit head.

Specialized Faculty Teaching Award

The Specialized Faculty Teaching Award recognizes teaching associates who excel as teachers in the classroom and/or laboratory instruction in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

The Award

Each year the college presents one Specialized Faculty Teaching Award. The recipient receives a $1,000 personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees for the Specialized Faculty Teaching Award must have held a paid appointment as a specialized faculty member in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, with primary instructor responsibility for at least one course for at least three years at the time of nomination.

Individuals on disability, sabbatical leave, and leave without pay are not eligible during leave; however, these leaves are not considered interruptions of service time for subsequent years. Members of the faculty who are full-time administrators are not eligible for the award.

A faculty member may only receive the Specialized Faculty Teaching Award once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should present the case for the nominee in the following areas: 1)demonstration of the importance of the nominee’s courses to the instructional program of the unit, the nominee’s overall impact on undergraduates (both past and present) 2) a chart showing year and semester, course number, enrollment, and level of students taught for all courses taught by the nominee within the last three years. A key should be included to indicate the course title for each course number listed on the chart 3) selected comments from evaluation forms. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. ICES Scores

4. Curriculum vitae

5. Letters of support: No more than two letters of support from faculty members directly involved in the nominee’s teaching activities, or individuals having knowledge about the nominee’s teaching activities and no more than two letters of support from former students (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated in terms of consistent excellent performance; impact on students; innovative approaches to teaching; other contributions to improved instruction, including curriculum and course development; and professional contributions to the academic community. The award recipient will be selected by the appropriate college level advisory/policy committee. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation.

Team Award for Excellence

The Team Award for Excellence recognizes faculty members and staff who, working together as a team, have made a significant contribution in teaching, research, or extension.

The Award

Each year the college presents one Team Award for Excellence to recognize outstanding contributions uniquely accomplished through a team effort. The award includes an unrestricted $6,000 gift to the team and individual certificates of recognition.

Eligibility

A team must be comprised of at least three faculty members and/or staff engaged in a program that furthers the mission of the college. Meritorious impact within the last three years is essential. The program may identify with teaching, research, extension, or some combination thereof. Ideally, the team will be represented cross-departmentally, with overlapping accomplishments in teaching, research, and extension.

A specific team is eligible to receive the team award once every three years. An individual team award nominee may be considered eligible for other awards in the same year. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

The team must be declared eligible by the unit head. Each department may only nominate one team for the award. All team members must be included in the original nomination. The nomination must be submitted electronically by the department contact before the nomination deadline.

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head(s). The letter should include a program summary that frames the issue, describes the team’s efforts, and states the significant impact(s) of the program within the last three years. Contributions of team members and evidence of team collaboration must be articulated. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. Biographical and statistical information summary: Biographical and statistical information for each team member, including personal information, education, employment record, relevant affiliations, and awards and achievements that relate most closely to the project (one page per team member)

4. Letters of support: No more than three letters of support from individuals other than the nominator, such as past or present colleagues or collaborators. One letter must be from a current ACES faculty/staff member (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated, and the award recipient will be selected by a selection committee from the college faculty and staff. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for the committee’s operation.

The selection committee may decide against granting an award if no meritorious team has been nominated. The selection committee shall submit its recommendations for a recipient to the dean. The dean shall notify the recipient, the appropriate associate dean, and unit head.

John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler Teaching Award

The John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler Teaching Award recognizes outstanding faculty teaching as it is broadly defined, to include all instructional activities of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Mildred Spitler Johnson of Urbana provided funds to establish this award in 1988 in honor of her parents, John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler. John Clyde Spitler began his early work with the Cooperative Extension Service in 1917 and in 1932 was appointed state leader of farm advisers. He served as assistant director of agricultural and home economics extension from 1937 to 1943 and as associate director from 1943 until his retirement in 1949.

The Award

Each year the College presents one John Clyde and Henrietta Downey Spitler Teaching Award in recognition of outstanding contributions in education through public service, including those instructional activities sponsored by University of Illinois Extension. The award includes a $2,000 unrestricted personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a faculty member (specialized faculty or tenure-track) who holds a full-time appointment in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Individuals on disability, sabbatical leave, and leave without pay are also eligible. Members of the faculty who are full-time administrators are not eligible for the award.

A faculty member may receive this award only once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

2. Letter of nomination: The letter of nomination must be co-signed by the nominator and the unit head. The letter should include major contributions in teaching. Contributions to unit and college goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion should be noted (six page maximum).

3. Letters of support: No more than three letters of support from individuals other than the nominator, such as past or present colleagues or collaborators. One letter must be from a current ACES faculty/staff member (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated, and the award recipient selected by the appropriate college level advisory/policy committee. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for its operation. The committee will consider the achievements and contributions of the nominee for excellence in education through public service.

Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Award

The Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Award recognizes demonstrated excellence in undergraduate advising and counseling by faculty both tenure track and specialized of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This award was established in 1988 by the late George R. Bunn and Arthur H. Bunn of the Bunn-O-Matic Corporation of Springfield, Illinois, to honor Karl E. Gardner for his dedication, service, and concern for undergraduate students. The late Dr. Gardner was a faculty member, teacher, and adviser of students in the Department of Dairy Science and later was associate dean and director of resident instruction for the college from 1959 until his retirement in 1977.

The Award

Each year the College presents two Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Awards in recognition of excellence in advising undergraduate students. The award includes a $2,000 unrestricted personal award and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a faculty member in either a tenure track or tenured position, or specialized faculty who advises undergraduate students and holds a paid appointment in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Individuals on disability, sabbatical leave, and leave without pay are also eligible. Members of the faculty who are full-time administrators are not eligible for the award.

A faculty member may receive each award only once. If an issue arises concerning the eligibility for an award, the issue will be decided by the appropriate associate dean and policy committee chair, depending upon the award for which the nomination has been made.

Nominations

3. Letters of support: No more than three letters of support from individuals other than the nominator, such as past or present colleagues or collaborators. One letter must be from a current ACES faculty/staff member (two page maximum).

Selection

Nominees will be evaluated, and award recipients selected by the appropriate college-level advisory/policy committee. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for its operation. The committee will consider the achievements and contributions of the nominee for excellence in education through public service.