This year's awards category is Research / Scholarship / Creative Activity.

Sponsor

University of Arizona Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost.

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 Research / Scholarship / Creative Activity.

Award

The prize consists of a one-time award of $10,000, a medallion and a certificate.

Number of Awards

One prize will be awarded each year.

Koffler Prizes will be given in three categories in the following order:

Year      Award Category

2024     Teaching

2025     Research/Scholarship/Creative Activity

2026     Public Service/Outreach

2027    Research/Scholarship/Creative Activity

Criteria

Eligibility for the prizes is extended to all persons serving under the conditions of faculty, professional or administrative service.

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 2025 Award category of Research / Scholarship / Creative Activity 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).

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 teaching (2024), research/scholarship/creative activity (2025/2027), 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.

Inclusion is one of the core values of 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 an inclusive 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.

Selection Process

Nominations are reviewed by a university-wide committee. Notification of the outcome after committee review and final selection will be sent to the individual, the Dean of the College and the nomination team/committee representative.

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).

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.

Submission of Materials

Materials are to be 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 will be 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. 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.

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.

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.