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University Faculty Awards FAQ

General Questions

Questions from Nominators 

Questions from Nominees 

General Questions

What is the role of the Faculty Senate’s University Faculty Awards Committee? How is the membership decided?
The Faculty Senate’s University Faculty Awards Committee is responsible for representing the faculty voice in the awards process; reviewing nominees’ files in a thorough and diligent manner; consulting with the Office of the Provost before the announcement of awardees; reviewing the selection process each year, aiming to keep the process equitable and inclusive; and proposing or reviewing proposals for the establishment of new faulty award categories. The committee is chaired by the Faculty Senate’s Vice Chair (currently Jennifer Axe) and its membership consists of previous award recipients, sitting senators, and Faculty Senate DEI Committee members.

AnchorHave new award categories been added for the 2024 cycle?
We have not added any new award categories for the coming year. The most recent additions were the Outstanding Community Engagement Award (2020) and the Faculty Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2019). If you have an idea for a new award for 2025, please contact facultysenate@american.edu.

When will award recipients be announced?
The Office of the Provost will notify award recipients that they have been selected in early April. An announcement will then be shared with the university community.

AnchorHow will award recipients be recognized?
We will present this year’s University Faculty Awards during a Faculty Recognition Dinner on Sunday, April 21, 2024. More information will be provided as this date approaches.

AnchorIs prize money associated with the awards taxable?
Yes, monetary awards are considered taxable compensation to the recipient in accordance with the IRS code.

I have a question not addressed here or I am experiencing technical difficulties in submitting my materials. Who can provide additional support related to University Faculty Awards?
Please contact Sara Biggs at sbiggs@american.edu if you have questions or require assistance while submitting your nomination.

Questions from Nominators 

What is the nomination deadline for University Faculty Awards?  
The nomination deadline is Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at 6 pm Eastern. Nominees will have until a week after the deadline to upload supporting materials. 

How do I nominate my colleague/professor for an award?  
To submit a University Faculty Award nomination, complete the online form. You will have an opportunity to upload a nomination narrative (up to two pages) that speaks to the nominee’s key achievements related to the award criteria.  

Should I tell my colleague/professor that I am nominating them for an award? 
While you are not obligated to do so, it is a good idea to let your colleague or professor know that you are nominating them for an award—particularly as the deadline approaches. Sharing this information will give the nominee more time to think about and compile any supporting materials. 

What timeframe is considered in selecting award recipients? 
The committee plans to focus primarily on the last 5 or 6 years, although it is certainly possible for nominations to highlight accomplishments beyond this window. Exceptions include the Morton Bender Prize, which is awarded based on work completed within the four years post-tenure, and the Scholar/Teacher of the Year Award, which is a lifetime honor. 

Can I nominate my colleague/professor for more than one award? 
Yes, faculty members may technically be nominated for multiple awards. In this case, you would need to submit separate nominations for each category. You are encouraged to tailor the nomination materials to the award criteria and should avoid uploading the same narrative twice.   

Can I nominate two colleagues/professors for the same award? 
Yes, you may nominate multiple colleagues/professors within the same award category.  

Can I submit a joint nomination for multiple colleagues/professors to be considered for work they have completed together? 
In most cases, individual faculty are nominated for University Faculty Awards, but joint nominations may be appropriate in certain categories (e.g., Outstanding Contribution to Fostering Collaborative Scholarship) and can be facilitated manually. The nomination platform and process do not easily accommodate submissions for multiple faculty members, particularly those who come from different academic units, so please contact Sara Biggs (sbiggs@american.edu) for further guidance if you would like to create a joint nomination. 

Can I nominate myself for an award?  
Yes, you are welcome to submit a self-nomination. 

I am not sure if my professor is a full-time faculty member or an adjunct faculty member. How do I know which award to select? 
If you do not know a faculty member’s appointment status or would like to confirm their school/college affiliation, please feel free to ask your professor directly or contact Sara Biggs (sbiggs@american.edu) for assistance. 

I am an AU alum. Can I nominate my former professor for an award? 
Yes, we welcome nominations from AU alumni, but please note that the online form is only available to current students, faculty, and staff. In order to submit your materials, please contact Sara Biggs at sbiggs@american.edu for assistance. 

Can I save my nomination and return to it later? 
Yes. You will have an option to save your nomination as a draft, at which point you will receive an email with a link to the in-progress form. You can then return to and complete the nomination any time. 

Are all AU faculty eligible for award consideration?  
Faculty must have an appointment within the 2023-2024 academic year to be considered for a 2024 award. Current Faculty Senate leadership and University Faculty Award Committee members are not eligible during the year(s) of their service.   

Can a faculty member be nominated for the same award during multiple years? Can they receive an award more than once? 
If a faculty member has been nominated for but did not receive an award, it is absolutely possible to put their name forward again the following year. In order to ensure that more of our outstanding faculty receive recognition, however, it is unlikely that a recent award recipient would be honored more than once in the same category. Feel free to check the list of past recipients. 

Will nominees have access to the nomination narrative that I submit?
Yes, faculty nominated for awards can view the nomination narrative.

Questions from Nominees 

Do I need to upload supporting documents to my nomination? What supplemental materials should I include?  
While supporting documents are not required, they can help the review committee to learn more about your accomplishments. The following supplemental materials are accepted: 

  • CV (strongly recommended) 
  • Memo from nominee* (up to 2 pages) 
  • One letter of recommendation (from a colleague, student, community partner, etc.) 
  • One additional item of nominee’s choosing that relates to the award criteria (for example, this might be a syllabus, article, link to a video or website, an additional letter of recommendation, etc.). Please avoid uploading a large compilation of documents. Note that this item should not take very long for the committee to review. 

Even if you do not choose to upload documents, you will need to click on the link in the email that you receive when your nomination is submitted to confirm your decision.   

*In the case of self-nominations, the nomination narrative fulfills this purpose.

Do I need to upload my SETs? 
No. The Office of Institutional Research and Assesment or the nominee's academic unit will provide an SET summary for nominees in teaching award categories. 

Can I include other items beyond those materials recommended? 
No, the University Faculty Awards Committee will limit its consideration of materials to the items requested.  

When must I submit my supporting documents?  
Supporting materials are due within one week of the nomination deadline (Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6 pm Eastern). 

Am I able to decline my University Faculty Award nomination? 
Yes, please contact Sara Biggs at sbiggs@american.edu if you do not want to be considered.  

Can recommenders submit their letters confidentially?
Yes, feel free to ask your recommender to send the letter as an email attachment to sbiggs@american.edu if preferred. AnchorAnchor

 

Contact

Sara Biggs
Office of the Provost
(202) 885-2128
sbiggs@american.edu