Internal Awards
Arthur F. Thurnau Professorships
Each year, Thurnau Professorships recognize and reward a highly select group of five or six tenured faculty for their outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Those appointed to Thurnau Professorships hold this title along with their other university titles and receive a $20,000 grant to support activities associated with further enhancing their teaching (e.g. travel, books, equipment, graduate student support.) The Professorships are named after Arthur F. Thurnau, a student at the University of Michigan from 1902 to 1904, and are supported by the Thurnau Charitable Trust that was established through his will. The yearly call for nominations is typically announced by the Provost's Office in July. The Office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (ADAA) solicits nominations and they are due to the ADAA in November. Thurnau Professorship nominations are due to the Provost's Office in early December, recommended to the Regents at their February meeting and announced at Honors Convocation in March.
Additional information regarding Thurnau Professorship Details regarding the nomination process can be found at: http://www.provost.umich.edu/programs/thurnau/index.html
Nine of the University's most prestigious faculty awards as well as the Outstanding GSI Awards are selected from nominations by panels of senior faculty, with administrative support from the Rackham Graduate School. The following list describes each award and provides nomination deadlines.
The complete guidelines are on the Rackham web site at: http://www.rackham.umich.edu/faculty_staff/awards (Faculty awards are the first item and the Outstanding GSI awards are noted in the third section under "Student Fellowships, Awards, Grants, and Scholarships.")
The selection panels are eager to get strong pools of men and women from diverse backgrounds for these awards. Note that all nominations must be submitted on-line; paper nomination dossiers will not be accepted. For more information about any of the following awards, please contact Homer Rose, Assistant Dean for Academic Programs, at 734-764-4400 or email at hcrosejr@umich.edu.
John H. D'Arms Awards for Distinguished Graduate Mentoring in the Humanities (Nominations due January 25, 2010) Tenured faculty in the Humanities who have directed a substantial number of dissertations are eligible for these awards which recognize superb scholars who are also exceptional mentors. One or two students in the graduate programs of each faculty recipient will receive an award for summer research travel.
Rackham Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Awards (Nominations due January 25, 2010) Nominees must be tenured faculty members who have advised a substantial number of doctoral students over a number of years. More than one nomination may be submitted per department or program. Because the D'Arms Award specifically recognizes distinguished mentoring in the humanities, this award will typically go to faculty members in fields other than the humanities.
Rackham Master's Mentoring Awards (Nominations due January 25, 2010) Nominees must be faculty members who have advised a substantial number of Rackham master's degree students over a number of years. More than one nomination may be submitted from any one program. Nominees may be a tenured or tenure track faculty member, or a faculty member who is a lecturer, or a clinical or research faculty member. Schools, departments and programs are encouraged to recognize that mentoring may take a variety of forms.
Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)Awards (Nominations due January 25, 2010) Eligible students will have completed at least two terms (not necessarily consecutive) as Graduate Student Instructors. The awards honor GSIs who have demonstrated exceptional ability and creativity as teachers, continuous development as teachers, outstanding service as advisors and mentors, and steady growth as scholars.
Faculty Recognition Awards (Nominations due February 22, 2010) Full professors with no more than four years at that rank, associate and assistant professors are eligible for these awards honoring significant achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors, teaching, advising and mentoring, and service to the University.
University Undergraduate Teaching Awards (Nominations due February 22, 2010) These awards honor demonstrated excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level. Any tenure-track faculty member who has been in the professorial ranks for more than two years is eligible for nomination.
Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards (Nominations due February 22, 2010) Full or associate professors may be nominated for these awards which honor exceptional achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors, teaching, service and other activities that have brought distinction to the University.
Distinguished University Professorships (Nominations due March 8, 2010) These appointments recognize exceptional scholarly and/or artistic achievement, national and international reputation, and superior teaching skills. Each professorship carries with it an annual salary supplement of $5,000 and an annual research supplement of $5,000. The duration of the appointment is unlimited, and the title may be retained after retirement. Only faculty with the rank of full professor may be nominated. Distinguished University Professorships are awarded only to members of the faculty currently in service to the University.
Henry Russel Award (Nominations due March 29, 2010) Recognizes distinguished scholarship or authorship, creativity in the arts, and conspicuous ability as a teacher. Associate and assistant professors are eligible provided that they have been tenure-track instructional faculty for no more than six years at the time of nomination.
Henry Russel Lectureship (Nominations due March 29, 2010) Considered one of the University's highest honors for a senior member of its faculty, the Henry Russel Lectureship is awarded annually in recognition of a scholar's exceptional achievements in research and scholarship and/or creative endeavors and an outstanding record of teaching, mentoring, and service. Active members of the faculty in any discipline at the rank of professor are eligible.
Additional information regarding the Faculty Awards Program can be found at the Provost's website:
