Awards Committee

The duty of the COEHD Awards Committee shall be to review applications for the COEHD annual awards, including but not limited to: the Teaching Excellence Award, the Research and Creative Achievement Award, and the Service and Engagement Award. The Awards Committee will be composed of a minimum of three individuals, one from each School. Each School will elect one representative to serve a two year term on the Awards Committee. When possible, these elections will take place early in the Fall semester. Members cannot be considered for one of the awards while serving on the Awards Committee. Members on the Awards Committee will serve a two year term, and can be re-elected one time for two concurrent terms. After a minimum of one term away, members may rejoin the committee. To support continuity and organization, terms of the Committee will be rotated, so that at least one member is always serving in their second year.

2023-24 Awards Committee:

  • Jennifer McNulty, Chair, Lecturer of Health Education & Lifespan
  • Rebecca Buchanan, Associate Professor of Curriculum, Assessment & Instruction
  • Daniel Puhlman, Assistant Professor of Family Studies

Award descriptions and nomination criteria are listed below. Nominations should be emailed directly to Awards Committee chair Jennifer McNulty, jennifer.mcnulty@maine.edu.

For a list of past honorees, click here.

Award Descriptions and Nomination Process:

Teaching Excellence Award

Description

This award recognizes excellence in teaching through innovation, dedication to students and the science of teaching and learning, and commitment to equity and inclusion. Faculty at any point in their career can be nominated. Two teaching excellence awards are given annually: one to a full-time faculty member and one to a part-time or adjunct faculty member.

Nominations

Nominations for this award will require a letter and supporting documents. Nominations may come from colleagues or faculty may self-nominate. The nomination letter should be no more than two pages in length and it should address the nominee’s strengths in relation to the award criteria. Nominations should also include one of the following four supporting documents that address the nominee’s strengths in relation to the award criteria: the nominee’s updated CV (2 pages, maximum), tenure document, latest post-tenure review or peer-review, or permission for the Awards Committee to access the nominee’s last 2 years of faculty activity reports.

The two awardees will be chosen by the Awards Committee based on submitted materials, recent awardees and school representation. Spring nominees that are eligible for the President’s Outstanding Teaching Award will form the College pool for nominations to that campus-wide award.

Research and Creative Achievement Award (faculty of any rank)

Description

This award recognizes outstanding research and creative achievement by faculty which may take many different forms. Activity considered may include, but is not limited to: research and scholarly publications, presentations at conferences, success in obtaining external research funding, creative and innovative new developments in one’s field, and discipline-based as well as community-engaged research. The award may recognize both recent and cumulative effort. Nominations are accepted for faculty of any rank. One award is given annually.

Nominations

The Awards Committee will accept nomination or self-nomination letters that outline outstanding research and creative achievements. Additionally, the nominee’s updated CV must be submitted. Every School will be encouraged to submit at least one nomination per year. The committee will examine submitted materials and seek additional expertise on content, if needed.

Faculty Service Award (faculty of any rank)

Description

This award recognizes outstanding service by faculty which may take many different forms. Activity considered may include, but is not limited to: service to one’s professional field; within one’s School, the COEHD or UMaine; to the state of Maine; and to other groups and partnerships in the local or broader community. The award may recognize both recent and cumulative effort. Nominations are accepted for faculty of any rank. One award is given annually.

Nominations

The Awards Committee will accept nomination or self-nomination letters that outline the nominee’s service achievements. Additionally, the nominee’s updated CV must be submitted. Every School will be encouraged to submit at least one nomination letter per year.

Staff Service Award (classified, professional, non-faculty positions)

Description

This award recognizes outstanding staff service, professionalism and excellence as well as service that creates broader positive impacts for the COEHD. Some notable areas might include, for example: faculty and student support, COEHD workplace communications or climate, COEHD visibility, or external partnerships. All COEHD staff members (defined as classified, professional and other non-faculty positions) are eligible no matter their length of employment. Various forms of service can be recognized.

Nominations

The Awards Committee will accept nomination or self-nomination letters outlining the staff member’s body of service. Each School will be encouraged to submit at least one nomination letter per year.