The University Distinguished Professor Award was created in 1995. Those honored have demonstrated throughout their careers that they have made a difference in student lives through personal commitment, mentored a broad range of undergraduate students, demonstrated in their classroom or discipline one or more of the following forms of scholarship: integration, application, teaching and discovery, and fostered an attitude of critical inquiry, encouraging students to question assumptions, challenge conventional wisdom and to scrutinize evidence carefully.
Sponsor
University of Arizona Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.
Purpose
The University Distinguished Professor awards, were created in 1995 by President Manuel Pacheco to recognize faculty who have a long-term commitment to undergraduate education and have made outstanding contributions at The University of Arizona.
Award
In addition to the title of University Distinguished Professor, this award carries a $5,000 increase to base salary.
Number of Awards
Up to two awards may be made each year.
Eligibility
Full rank tenured faculty. Emeritus faculty are not eligible.
Criteria
Appointed individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to undergraduate education in the following ways:
- A minimum of 10 years teaching in higher education with at least 50% of the teaching assignment in undergraduate teaching
- A distinguished record of creative scholarship (research)
- The application of scholarship in the undergraduate classroom
- Evidence of the highest standards of teaching
- Evidence of effective advising and mentoring of undergraduates
- Involvement in undergraduate curriculum innovation within his/her discipline and/or in University general education
- Evidence of extra-curricular activities or extra-mural service related to the undergraduate experience
Nomination Process
University faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to make nominations. Each nomination should contain the following:
- A letter of nomination signed by at least four individuals, at least two of whom must be University of Arizona faculty. The letter should specify how the nominee meets the criteria for the award.
- A current curriculum vitae for the candidate.
- A personal statement of the candidate’s approach to teaching and scholarship
- Documentation of undergraduate teaching effectiveness and commitment including:
- Letters of support (no more than six) from undergraduate students.
- Listing of undergraduate courses taught, by number and name, including the semesters and years in which the courses were taught.
- Quality of teaching, including quantitative and narrative measures on which quality is based.
- Amount and effectiveness of advising and mentoring.
- Innovation and impact in undergraduate curriculum development
- Innovation and impact in creative scholarship and research, especially as introduced into the classroom and in advising of undergraduate research.
- Extra-curricular university activities related to the undergraduate experience.
- The most recent Teacher Course Evaluations (TCE) for the past three years.
Inclusive excellence is the engine that drives the value and practice of diversity and inclusiveness at the University of Arizona. At the center of Inclusive Excellence is the recognition and acceptance of the talents, world-views, perceptions, cultures and skills that faculty communities bring to the educational enterprise. The University of Arizona recognizes the power of a diverse community and strongly encourages nominations of individuals with varied experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. As a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), the University of Arizona also recognized the importance of contributions of the nominee to the HSI mission.
Submission of Materials
Materials are to be submitted online through Arizona Cultivate: https://arizona.infoready4.com/#provost
Review the nomination packet carefully before submitting to make sure that all of the required material is accurate and included.
Selection Process
Nominations are reviewed by a university-wide committee. Notification of the award winners will be sent to the individual, the Dean of the College and the nomination contact person in April. Notification of nominations that were not selected will be sent to the Dean of the College and the contact person or an appropriate senior member of the nominating team.
Recognition
The recipient(s), if any, will be celebrated at a special award ceremony in 2025. Recipients will receive more information through email.
Due Date
Monday, December 9, 2024 at 5 p.m.
Awardees will be announced by the end of April, 2025.
For More Information
Please contact: Dr. Adrián Arroyo, +1 (520) 621-2121 or email arroyopa@arizona.edu