Faculty Awards

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Example Documentation

Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards

The Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards are for faculty who have clearly distinguished themselves in their nominated category. A nominee selected to receive one of the awards is one who has gone above and beyond in his or her work and has brought distinction to themself and/or the University.

The Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Awards are offered in the following six categories: Teaching I, Teaching II, Research I, Research II, Creative Activity, and Service. Each award carries a one-time $3,500 stipend. All tenure-track and tenured faculty members are eligible to receive only one EMU Ronald W. Collins Distinguished Faculty Award during their time at EMU.

  • General Instructions Expand dropdown

    The nominee is to create a single nomination PDF document that will contain the requested information elements. The PDF file should be titled LastName-FirstName-Name of the Award 2024 (e.g., Smith-John-Teaching I-2024). Please use page breaks to divide the nomination PDF document into sections as outlined in the application instructions for the chosen category.

    Upload the nomination PDF document by 11:59 pm, Tuesday, January 16, 2024. No late applications will be accepted.  Once uploaded the PDF document may not be changed or resubmitted.

  • Nomination Timeline Expand dropdown
    • Nominations Open: November 13, 2023
    • Nominations Close:  11:59 p.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (No late applications will be accepted.)
    • Upload Nomination Materials Here:  https://emich.infoready4.com/

    The Ronald W. Collins – Distinguished Faculty Awards Committee (DFAC) is comprised of winners of the awards from past years who are currently employed at EMU and selected by the Faculty Senate, as needed.

  • Evaluation Process Expand dropdown
    1. Nomination materials, collected in a single nomination PDF document, will be uploaded to and stored on the EMU info ready website. The PDF file should be titled LastName-FirstName-Name of the Award-2024 (e.g., Smith-John-Teaching I-2024). Once uploaded the document may not be changed or resubmitted.
    2. The DFAC will review and assess the materials submitted by the nominees.
    3. The DFAC will recommend the top nominations from each of the six categories.
    4. The Chair of the DFAC (William Welsh) will compile the recommendations and comments and forward them to the Faculty
    5. Senate Executive Board and the Provost's Office by the due date.
    6. Applicants will be notified in writing of the Provost's decision. Award winners will be recognized at the award ceremony, stay tuned for details.
  • Evaluation Timeline Expand dropdown
    • Review of Nomination Materials:  January 17, 2024 through February 6, 2024 by noon.
    • Results from the DFAC Delivered to Provost’s Office by: February 14, 2024
    • Distinguished Contributions Awards Ceremony, stay tuned for details.

Category-Specific Nomination Information

  • Teaching Award I & II Expand dropdown
    Minimum Qualifications
    • Teaching I is given to a tenured or tenure-track faculty member with one to five years of teaching experience at Eastern Michigan University as of this academic year (2023-2024).
    • Teaching II is given to a tenured and tenure-track faculty members with six or more years of teaching experience at Eastern Michigan University.
    Required Information

    The single nomination PDF document should include documentation showing a faculty member's dedication to the education of students and ability to skillfully facilitate student learning. (The PDF file should be titled  LastName-FirstName Name of the Award-2024 [e.g., Smith-John-Teaching I-2024]).

    For this category, include the following in the nomination PDF document (be sure to use page breaks between each section):

    • Section 1: Cover sheet containing Name, Rank, Award Category, Year started at EMU, College & Department, and Email.
    • Section 2: Nominee is to attach a brief biographical sketch of less than 250 words.
    • Section 3: Nominee is to attach a comprehensive curriculum vita (CV). The CV is to be presented thematically, highlighting the relevant items corresponding to the award being sought by the nominee.
    • Section 4: Nominee may attach letters of support from former students, colleagues, and other appropriate individuals, internal or external to EMU, who have knowledge of the candidate's merits and contributions in the category for which she or he is being nominated. Five letters of support is the maximum.
    • Section 5: A statement of teaching interests, methods, and philosophy (500 words maximum.)
    • Section 6: A statement that describes the nominee’s distinguished teaching accomplishments (1,000 words maximum.) Provide a narrative of the nominee’s strengths and record of accomplishment in teaching (e.g., descriptions of course and curricular development and innovations, use of experimental curricula, methods of engaging and inspiring students, creative use of instructional technology, and academic service-learning.)
    • Section 7: Student Course Evaluation Summary (500 words maximum.) This statement should summarize the strengths of the nominee qualitatively using relevant quantitative data from course evaluations. Raw data and forms will not be reviewed.
    • Section 8: Up to 3 sample syllabi.
    • Section 9: Optional: Illustrative documentation (10 pages maximum.)  If additional illustrations would assist the reviewers, provide no more than ten pages to convey the merits of the nominee. Illustrations are visual aids, photographs, etc.
  • Research Award I & II Expand dropdown
    Minimum Qualifications:

    Research I is given to a tenured or tenure-track faculty members with one to five years of teaching experience at Eastern Michigan University as of this academic year (2023-2024).

    Research II is given to a tenured and tenure-track faculty members with six or more years of teaching experience at Eastern Michigan University.

    Required Information

    The single nomination PDF document should include documentation showing a faculty member’s scholarship, which may include publications, presentations, and award citations as well as information on other internal or external funded research support received. (The PDF file should be titled LastName-FirstName-Name of the Award-2024 [e.g., Smith-John-Research I -2024]).

    For this category, include the following in the nomination PDF document (be sure to use page breaks between each section):

    • Section 1:  Cover sheet containing Name, Rank, Award Category, Year started at EMU, College & Department, and Email.
    • Section 2: Nominee is to attach a brief biographical sketch of less than 250 words.
    • Section 3: Nominee is to attach a comprehensive curriculum vita (CV). The CV is to be presented thematically, highlighting the relevant items corresponding to the award being sought by the nominee.
    • Section 4: Nominee may attach letters of support from former students, colleagues, and other appropriate individuals, internal or external to EMU, who have knowledge of the candidate's merits and contributions in the category for which she or he is being nominated. Five letters of support is the maximum.
    • Section 5. A statement of research interests, methods, and how the research impacts EMU and/or the nominee’s profession (500 words maximum.)
    • Section 6: Evidence of exceptional research that distinguishes the nominee’s work (1,000 words maximum) in traditional, nontraditional, or emerging areas.  Provide a narrative that may include the nominee’s strengths and record of accomplishment in research (e.g., discovery of new knowledge; innovative methodologies; applications of knowledge to benefit the profession, community, and/or society; summaries of projects, endeavors, evidence of ability to both collaborate and lead in team contexts, awards, publications, grants, or other evidence of recognition in research.)
    • Section 7: Selected articles, manuscripts, electronic links, abstracts, etc. may be submitted. Please note: Please provide electronic links to large video files (e.g., movies).  The InfoReady program will not accept excessively large files.  
    • Section 8: Optional: Illustrative documentation (10 pages maximum.)  If additional illustrations would assist the reviewers, provide no more than ten pages to convey the merits of the nominee. Illustrations are visual aids, photographs, etc.
  • Creative Activity Award Expand dropdown
    Minimum Qualifications

    The Creative Activity Award is given to a faculty member regardless of years employed at the university.

    Faculty creativity often transcends traditional scholarly domains and methods, particularly in the Arts. The creative activity award may be given on the basis of excellence for artistic creations, music, fiction, poetry, drama, performance, media productions, film, interior design/architecture, fashion design etc.

    Required Information

    For this category, include the following to the single nomination PDF document (The PDF file should be titled LastName-FirstName-Name of the Award-2024 [e.g., Smith-John-Creative Activity -2024]):

    • Section 1:  Cover sheet containing Name, Rank, Award Category, Year started at EMU, College & Department, and Email.
    • Section 2: Nominee is to attach a brief biographical sketch of fewer than 250 words.
    • Section 3: Nominee is to attach a comprehensive curriculum vita (CV). The CV is to be presented thematically, highlighting the relevant items corresponding to the award being sought by the nominee.
    • Section 4: Nominee may attach letters of support from former students, colleagues, and other appropriate individuals, internal or external to EMU, who have knowledge of the candidate's merits and contributions in the category for which she or he is being nominated. Five letters of support is the maximum.
    • Section 5: A statement of creative interests, methods, and philosophy (500 words maximum.)
    • Section 6: A statement of creative accomplishments that distinguishes the nominee’s work (1,000 words maximum.) Provide a narrative of the nominee’s strengths and record of accomplishment with regard to creative activity (e.g., description of exhibits, literary publications, performances, installations, events, etc. that reflect the creative activity of the nominee and documents acclaim and awards for his or her contributions).
    • Section 7: Required: Illustrative documentation. Up to 15 pages of visual aids or photographs to help the reviewers evaluate the application. Links to relevant videos or slide shows may be included. Please note: Please provide electronic links to large video files (e.g., movies).  The InfoReady program will not accept excessively large files.
    • Section 8: Optional: Illustrative documentation (10 pages maximum.)  If additional illustrations would assist the reviewers, provide no more than ten pages to convey the merits of the nominee. Illustrations are visual aids, photographs, etc.
  • Service Award Expand dropdown
    Minimum Qualifications

    The Service Award is given to a faculty member regardless of years employed at the university.

    The Service award especially acknowledges the time faculty generously contribute to meet the needs and enhance the state of departments/schools, their college, the university, their profession, or other communities.

    Required Information

    For this category, include the following to the single nomination PDF document (The PDF file should be titled LastName-FirstName-Name of the Award-2024 [e.g., Smith-John-Service-2024]):

    • Section 1:  Cover sheet containing Name, Rank, Award Category, Year started at EMU, College & Department, and Email.
    • Section 2: Nominee is to attach a brief biographical sketch of less than 250 words.
    • Section 3: Nominee is to attach a comprehensive curriculum vita (CV). The CV is to be presented thematically, highlighting the relevant items corresponding to the award being sought by the nominee.
    • Section 4: Nominee may attach letters of support from former students, colleagues, and other appropriate individuals, internal or external to EMU, who have knowledge of the candidate's merits and contributions in the category for which she or he is being nominated. Five letters of support is the maximum.
    • Section 5: A statement of service interests and philosophy (500 words maximum.)
    • Section 6: Statement of accomplishments (1,000 words maximum.)  Provide a narrative that may include the nominee’s strengths and record of local, national, and/or international accomplishments in service (e.g., service that builds upon the nominee’s professional and scholarly expertise; summaries of internal and external projects; committees; challenging assignments; leadership roles, grants and resources generated for service projects, awards, newspaper articles or other publications, or other evidence of recognition by constituents served.)
    • Section 7: Optional: Illustrative documentation (10 pages maximum.)  If additional illustrations would assist the reviewers, provide no more than ten pages to convey the merits of the nominee. Illustrations are visual aids, photographs, etc. Some Above and Beyond Qualities of Nominees for Consideration