New awards created to recognize faculty contributions, achievement

Nominations are being accepted for three new awards the university has established to honor outstanding members of the faculty.

The Rice University Faculty Award for Excellence in University Service and Leadership will be bestowed annually on a faculty member who has made significant and distinctive contributions to the mission of Rice through exceptional university service and leadership.

The Rice University Faculty Award for Excellence in Professional Service and Leadership will be bestowed annually on a faculty member who has made significant contributions to the academic profession or to the wider community (local, national or international) through professional service and leadership.

The Rice University Faculty Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching and Service will be bestowed periodically on a faculty member who fulfills the Rice academic ideal by exhibiting exemplary achievement in all aspects of faculty responsibilities: research, teaching and service.

Any Rice faculty or staff member may nominate a faculty member for any of the three awards. The nomination package must include a letter detailing the specific award for which the nomination is submitted and the basis for the nomination as well as a copy of the candidate’s current CV.

Nominations this year are due March 1 and should be submitted via email to FacAward@rice.edu. In future years, nominations will open in the fall.

All nominations will be reviewed by the faculty service and leadership awards committee, which will be named shortly. The committee will submit a short list of award finalists to the president and provost for final selections. Nominations that are not selected will be automatically resubmitted and considered for two additional academic years.

Winners of the Award for Excellence in Professional Service and Leadership and Award for Excellence in University Service and Leadership will each receive $3,000 and a framed certificate signed by the president and provost. The winner of the Award for Excellence in Research, Teaching and Service will receive $6,000 and a framed certificate signed by the president and provost.

Awards will be presented in April at the University Awards Ceremony, which will incorporate these awards into the previously named Teaching Awards Ceremony.