Category: Submission Requirements

The Faculty Award for Excellence recognizes outstanding professional achievement and demonstrated excellence in the areas of teaching, research, and extension.

The Award

Each year the College presents three College Faculty Awards for Excellence to recognize excellence in teaching, research, and extension, respectively, and three Senior College Faculty Awards for Excellence to recognize sustained excellence in teaching, research, and extension, respectively. Each award includes a recurring salary increment of $1,000 and a certificate of recognition; the Senior College Faculty Award also includes a $1,000 unrestricted personal award.

Eligibility

Nominees for the College Faculty Awards must be a member in either a tenure track or tenured position, or specialized faculty who holds at least a 50-percent paid appointment in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for at least four consecutive years at the time of nomination. A nominee must have earned his or her highest degree no more than 12 years before the time of nomination.

Nominees for Senior College Faculty Awards must be a member of the tenured or specialized faculty who holds at least a 50-percent paid appointment in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for at least four consecutive years at the time of nomination. A nominee must have earned his or her highest degree 12 years or more before the time of nomination.

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

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, including teaching, research, and/or outreach contributions appropriate to the award for which the individual is being nominated and an overall evaluation of what the career contributions of the nominee have meant to producers, students, agribusiness, and consumers in Illinois, the nation, and the world. 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 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 on their achievements and contributions for excellence in the respective area in which he or she has been nominated (teaching, research, or extension). Award recipients will be selected by the appropriate college-level advisory/policy committee appointed by the college faculty. 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 the respective area in which he or she has been nominated (teaching, research, or extension).

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

The Faculty Award for Global Impact recognizes international achievements and demonstrated excellence related to global engagement.

The Award

Each year the College presents one Faculty Award for Global Impact. Each award includes a $2,000 unrestricted personal award, $1,000 to the appropriate department or administrative unit to support the recipient’s program, and a commemorative award.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a member of the faculty who holds a full-time appointment with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has a paid appointment in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for the academic year in which the award will be presented.

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

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 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 include major contributions, including teaching, research, and/or outreach contributions related to global engagement and describe their significance. 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 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 on their achievements and contributions to areas of teaching, research, and outreach related to global engagement and exceptional and innovative leadership in international activities that go beyond individual program responsibilities. The award recipient will be an individual whose contributions to ACES-related disciplines have global impact. Award recipient 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 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.

This award is presented to encourage and recognize the professorial career of tenured faculty in their performance and commitment to teaching and advising; research and publications; extension and public service; faculty governance; and participation in professional associations. The award, which was first presented in 2003, also memorializes the unique mission and rich history of the public land-grant university and exemplifies the continued opportunities it offers for worldwide contribution to the betterment of humankind and to democratic institutions in an ever-changing environment.

The award is supported by the U of I Foundation Robert G.F. Spitze Educational Fund and the Hazel Taylor Spitze Educational Fund. Robert G.F. Spitze served as a faculty member in Department of Agricultural Economics beginning in 1960 and retired as professor emeritus in 1993. Hazel Taylor Spitze served as a faculty member in home economics education beginning in 1962 and retired as professor emerita in 1987.

The Award

Each year the college may present one Spitze Land-Grant Professorial Career Excellence Award, which includes a $5,000 unrestricted personal award, a $1,000 unrestricted program award, an etched crystal award, and a certificate of recognition.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a member of the tenured faculty who holds at least a 50-percent paid appointment in College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences for the academic year in which the award will be presented; and have fifteen years of consecutive service in the college.

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 eligible for the award. 

A faculty member may receive the Spitze Land-Grant Professorial Career Excellence 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

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 in the following areas: 1) overall evaluation regarding performance and commitment to the land-grant mission of teaching and advising; research and publications; extension and public service; faculty governance (reference the listing on the cover sheet) and participation in professional associations. Contributions supporting the unit and college goals of diversity, equity and inclusion should be noted (eight page maximum).

3. Curriculum vitae

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 in terms of 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.