Campus Award for Excellence in Guiding Undergraduate Research

Engineering at Illinois Engineering at Illinois

Engineering Communications Office

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Campus Award for Excellence in Guiding Undergraduate Research

For more information, see the campus website.

This award is designed to foster and reward excellence in involving and guiding undergraduate students in scholarly research. The award provides $2,000 for the personal use of the faculty member selected to receive it.

Any tenured or tenure-track faculty member who has not received notice of nonreappointment is eligible for consideration. Once a faculty member has received this award, that person is not eligible for nomination during the next five-year period. An unlimited number of nominations can be submitted from the college.

Criteria
The primary criteria for selection are:

  • Sustained activity in involving and guiding undergraduate students in research projects
  • Evidence of the quality of the research results (published papers, presentations at professional meetings).
  • Evidence of impact on students (students' decision to attend graduate school or seek a research position).

Some consideration will be given to the number of students affected, but the selection committee is aware that these numbers may vary considerably, depending on the disciplines of the faculty members involved.

Solicitation
Communication from the Office of the Provost.

Nomination
The nomination procedure should involve undergraduate students as much as possible, with departmental and college circumstances dictating the best means to do so. The following information should be included in the nomination. Adherence to the following order of presentation is requested to simplify the work of the selection committees.

  1. A standard cover page, including the name of nominee, department, rank, and years at the university (Attachment A - see website).
  2. A statement describing the ways that the nominee has involved undergraduates in research activities, the number of years that the faculty member has done this, and the number of students involved in a typical years.
  3. Evidence of quality of results (evaluation by colleagues, papers presented or published).
  4. Evidence of impact on students. This might include statements from students or others and might present information about students' subsequent research activities.

Nominations are not to exceed five double-spaced pages (excluding cover sheet and up to four letters from students).

Due
November 30
Nominations submitted to the departmental main office. Nominations may be submitted before the winter holiday.
January 15
Deadline to submit ten (10) copies to the college awards committee (for subcommittee III).
January 20
Deadline to submit three (3) copies to the Office of Dean for Academic Programs, 206 Engineering Hall, MC-272.
January 31
 Two (2) copies of each nomination are transmitted by the dean to the Office of the Provost, 208 Swanlund Building. One copy remains on file in the deans office. The campus selection process is overseen by the Teaching Advancement Board and is advisory to the provost. There is no limit on the number that can be submitted.

Logistics
April
Award winner is announced at the campus Instructional Awards banquet.

Publication
May
If engineering candidate receives the award, letter of congratulations from dean, drafted by associate dean for academic programs, with copies to the following:

  • department heads
  • editor in the Engineering Communications Office
  • associate deans for external and administrative affairs

Note: Name changed in 1997 from Oakley-Kunde Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

Previous Recipients (College of Engineering)