Award Deadlines

Nomination Deadline: November 26, 2007
Application Deadline: February 1, 2008

Award Description

The Distinguished Faculty Service Award is given to a faculty member who, while in the employment of The University of West Florida, has given outstanding service to the University and/or the community. The "Institutional Role and Scope Statement" includes the bases for defining many of the activities which can be considered service:

University Faculty who contribute their professional talents and expertise to support the public service mission of the University. Such service includes, but is not limited to, providing the benefits of their expertise to community organizations; making public professional appearances or performances; consulting with governmental agencies, business industries, educational systems, community service or arts organizations; serving on University committees and councils; participating in the recruitment and professional placement of students; and serving as an officer or committee member in organizations related to the area of professional expertise.

Award Amount: $2,000

Award Criteria

Satisfaction of the following two criteria is essential:

1. The primary criterion should be one of impact. There should be substantial evidence that a nominee's service activities have had a significant positive effect on the community and/or the University.
2. The scope of a faculty member's service activities is a second criterion. There should be substantial evidence that the nominee's professional life has been characterized by a commitment to service activities as opposed to a one-time major involvement in such activity. In addition to evidence of a pattern of service over time, there should also be evidence of recent and/or current service contributions.

In addition, the following guidelines are suggested:

1. Accomplishments being reviewed should be those which occurred while the nominee was employed by the University.
2. Accomplishments need not be restricted to those directly allied with a nominee's field of declared professional expertise. They may be directed at improving the internal functioning of the University, enhancing the University's image in the eyes of the community it seeks to serve, or serving the nominee’s professional community.
3. Accomplishments need not be restricted to those for which no remuneration was accepted by the nominee. Both "paid" and "unpaid" service should be reviewed. However, the most desirable nominee would not be a person whose primary motivation for involvement in service activities appeared to be a pecuniary one. Service should entail at least some semblance of "giving of one's self."
4. Any person having faculty status at the University is eligible for nomination.
5. Anyone inside or outside the University may submit nominations for the award.
6. Documentation submitted in building the case for a nominee should:
   • provide sufficient evidence that the nominee did, in fact, engage in the service activity;
   • provide sufficient testimony to establish the significance/worth (impact) and scope of the nominee's accomplishments; and
   • be prepared specifically for consideration by this award committee. Portfolios prepared for other purposes will not be persuasive unless revised to address specifically the criteria for this award.
7. The Committee may decline to make an award or may reopen the competition if too few appropriate nominations are received.

Award Timeline

Nominations must be submitted to the Provost's Office no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, November 26, 2007, so the nominee can be notified and has adequate time to prepare an application. Nominations received after this date will be returned without consideration.

Applications are to be submitted to the Provost's Office no later than 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 1, 2008. Portfolios will be reviewed by the selection committee and a recommendation forwarded to the Provost.

An award announcement will be made at the 2008 Honors Convocation.

Recent Award Winners (Full List)