This year's awards category is Public Service / Outreach.
Sponsor
University of Arizona Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. This award is funded through the Provost’s Investment Fund.
Purpose
The Koffler Prizes, established through the generosity of Henry and Phyllis Koffler in 2000, recognize outstanding accomplishment in the areas of teaching; research/scholarship/creative activity; or public service / outreach.
This year's awards category is public service / outreach.
Award
The prize consists of a one-time award of $10,000, a medallion and a certificate.
Number of Awards
In the 2026 award cycle, two prizes will be awarded.
Koffler Prizes will be given in three categories in the following order:
Year Award Category
2026 Public Service / Outreach
2027 Teaching
2028 Research / Scholarship / Creative Activity
Eligibility
Eligibility for the prizes is extended to all persons serving under the conditions of faculty, professional or administrative service.
Criteria
The prizes are intended to honor individuals who have made major contributions to their fields in at least one of the three categories of the award, with emphasis on originality.
Specific Criteria for this 2026 Award category of Public Service / Outreach may include, but are not limited to:
- Proven beneficial impact upon society as demonstrated through significant accomplishments in conducting and implementing outreach policy or practices at the University of Arizona.
- Proven record of creative scholarship and/or the application of scholarship in non-traditional venues such as the community, the home, the field, providing means to create a better life for Arizonans.
- Evidence of an innovative outreach program within the discipline, having short- and long-term impacts and creative delivery methods.
Nomination Process
Nomination packets must include the following materials:
- A letter of nomination signed by any ad hoc group of five individuals to include at least three tenured faculty members or professionals with continuing status. The nomination letter should specify how the nominee meets the criteria for the award and the category area (see above) for which the nomination is being made.
- Current curriculum vitae for the candidate.
- A personal statement of the candidates’ approach to public service/outreach (2026).
- Documentation of outstanding achievements in the area for which the nomination is made. At least five, but no more than eight supporting letters (from inside or outside the University) should address the nominee’s achievements with regard to this award.
- Support letter from the nominee's College Dean.
Criteria may include, but are not limited to:
- Proven beneficial impact upon society as demonstrated through significant accomplishments in conducting and implementing outreach policy or practices at the University of Arizona.
- Proven record of creative scholarship and/or the application of scholarship in non-traditional venues such as the community, the home, the field, providing means to create a better life for Arizonans.
- Evidence of an innovative outreach program within the discipline, having short- and long-term impacts and creative delivery methods.
Criteria may include, but are not limited to:
- Proven excellence in the classroom and/or laboratory as demonstrated by consistently high student evaluation, local or national teaching awards, consistently superior ratings in the teaching area of the annual performance review.
- Proven success of students as demonstrated by placement into distinguished graduate programs, faculty positions at other institutions, the winning of distinguished competitions or other documented notable achievements in the discipline.
- National or international recognition of teaching through invitations to present at conferences, use of original teaching materials (textbooks, web-delivered courses, courseware).
Criteria may include, but are not limited to:
- Evidence of achievements judged to be original, substantive and substantial.
- Excellence in the nominee’s field or discipline as demonstrated through measures appropriate to the specific field.
- National or international recognition specific to the field of endeavor (such as invitations to participate in significant national or international activities, awards and prizes, membership in national academies, major exhibitions, research funding based on competition).
The University recognizes the wide range of skills and talents that faculty bring to our thriving academic community, which drive innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The University of Arizona is committed to fostering a culture of recognition and encourages the nomination of individuals of all experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. Additionally, the University values the significant contributions nominees make to advancing its land-grant mission.
Submission of Materials
Materials are submitted online through Arizona Cultivate.
Review the nomination packet carefully before submitting to make sure that all of the required material is accurate and included. Packets that are incomplete may be delayed.
Selection Process
Nominations are reviewed by a distinguished university-wide committee. Official notification of award recipients will be provided to the individual recipient, the Dean of the respective College, and the department head. For nominations not selected, notifications will be sent to both the nominee and the nominator listed in Cultivate.
Recognition
The recipient(s), if any, will be celebrated at a special award ceremony in 2026. Recipients will receive information about the ceremony through email.
Due Date
Monday, December 8, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Awardees will be announced by the end of April, 2026.
For More Information
Please contact: Dr. Adrián Arroyo-Pérez, +1 (520) 621-2121 or email arroyopa@arizona.edu.