11/21/03

NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR AU OUTREACH EXCELLENCE AWARD

Dean, directors, department heads and faculty are invited to submit nominations for the 2004 Auburn University Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach, which is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for University Outreach.

AWARD

The Auburn University Award for Excellence in Faculty Outreach and a $5,000 honorarium is presented annually to one exceptional AU faculty member. All tenured or tenure-track faculty, including those with Extension appointments, are eligible. The award criteria stress the overall academic merit and demonstrable impact of the nominee's outreach that exceeds expectations for the person's career stage and job responsibilities. Deadline for receipt of nominations is Jan. 16, 2004. The recipient will be selected by a peer committee.

CRITERIA

Nominees should have distinguished careers in which outreach plays an integral part. All AU tenured or tenure-track faculty, including those with Extension appointments, are eligible. Activities to be considered for this award are based on the University Faculty Handbook (chapter 3) definition of outreach as "the function of applying academic expertise to the direct benefit of external audiences in support of university and unit missions." Specific criteria include mission compatibility, scholarship and impact as defined below. Preference will be given to quality and impact over quantity or longevity.

The nomination should provide a commentary describing the scholarship involved in the outreach achievements cited. Specifically, the commentary should include the following topics:

Description: Provide a brief overview of the nominee's outreach record including citations of needs addressed, objectives, methods, target audience, etc.

Mission: How is the nominee's outreach compatible with university and unit missions? How does his/her outreach complement the teaching and research mission of the unit?

Scholarship: Describe the role of the nominee's professional expertise in the design and execution of the outreach. Describe how the outreach demonstrates or tests the applicability of the nominee's discipline to societal/human problems, requires integration with other disciplines and/or generates new knowledge for the discipline. How has this been communicated to broader audiences? Has this led to increased recognition of the nominee's professional expertise?

Impact: Describe observed impacts and/or explain any unobserved impacts that can be expected based upon other research and theory. Identify direct and indirect beneficiaries. How has the outreach benefited the target clients, the nominee's department and discipline?

SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS

1. A single letter of nomination that includes a commentary as outlined above and illustrates generally the academic record and reputation of the individual (limit to five pages, single spaced);

2. The nominee's vitae;

3. Letter of support from nominee's department head (other letters of support may be included);

4. All nominations must be received by Jan. 16, 2004;

5. Mail five (5) copies of nomination to:

Outreach Award for Excellence
Outreach Information & Marketing							           
201 O. D. Smith Hall
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849-5607

For more information, contact Ralph Foster, director, Outreach Information, 334/844-5118.

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nov03:AU-outreach