Awards for Excellence in Outreach and Public Engagement

Guidelines for 2007 Nominations

OVERVIEW

Nominations are invited for the Campus Awards for Excellence in Outreach and Public Engagement.   The awards will have five categories.  These categories will be for faculty members, staff members, Undergraduate students, graduate students and programs that engage the public to address critical societal issues. Programs are defined as a recognized set of official university activities organized for a specific outreach goal.

Each individual or program award winner will receive a $1,000 award along with recognition at the Excellence in Outreach and Public Engagement Reception on November 27, 2007 at the Wilbur Cross North Reading room from 4:00 – 6:00 PM.  The second and third place finalists in each category will also be recognized with a plaque at the Awards Ceremony. 

The ceremony will be preceded by a poster display featuring the accomplishments of the three finalists in each of the five categories at the Wilbur Cross Building.

Nominations are due to the Office of Provost by Friday, October 5, 2007.

ELIGIBILITY

• All faculty members, instructors, staff members, graduate students, undergraduate students and programs that have demonstrated initiative in developing and conducting outreach and public engagement activities in significant and sustained ways are eligible to be nominated for awards.

EXAMPLES OF OUTREACH AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES

The following are examples of the kinds of activities through which faculty, staff and students use their academic expertise to contribute to the public good:

• Assist the public with problem solving, developing public policy and/or providing technical assistance.

• Create partnerships with organizations such as schools, business and industry associations, local governmental units, neighborhood or community organizations, or public agencies around critical issues.

• Organize ways for engaging students in communities and schools and link student classroom experiences with community involvement.

• Provide leadership in public programming such as is offered through campus arts, humanities and cultural programming venues including the Jorgensen Performing Arts Center, Benton Museum of Art, the CT Natural History Museum, or the University Library.
• Develop and lead programs that provide education to the public or to part-time off campus students.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF FACULTY MEMBERS, ACADEMIC PROFESSIONALS AND STAFF EMPLOYEES

The selection committee will evaluate the nominations on the degree to which the nominees meet the following criteria in performing outreach and public engagement activities:

• Sustained leadership in working with the public and/or with external organizations.
• Innovative ways of working for the well being of citizens and communities.
• Documented excellence in extending University knowledge.
• Evidence of the impact on a target audience.
• Demonstrated intellectual, professional, and/or career growth as a result of the experience.
• Evidence of impact on scholarship/research, instruction and curriculum development, or evidence of national significance in the field.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF STUDENTS

The selection committee will evaluate the nominations on the degree to which the nominees meet the following criteria in performing outreach and public engagement activities:

• Sustained leadership responsibilities that have progressively increased over time.
• Innovative ways of working for the well being of citizens and communities.
• Evidence of the impact on a target audience.
• Demonstrated academic, intellectual, or professional development as a result of the experience.

NOMINATION PROCEDURES

Any employee or unit of the University of Connecticut, including regional campuses, or members of the public working with the nominee can make nominations. Nominations should be submitted to the Office of Provost before 5 p.m. on Friday, October 5, 2007.

Nomination packets should include the following:

1. A narrative (no more than 1000 words) describing how the nominee fulfills the stated criteria. The narrative should include: descriptions of specific activities or programs in which the candidate has excelled, comments on the importance of the individual’s work to the university, and indicators of the impact of the activities on the external constituent(s) as well as on the university
2. The nominee’s curriculum vitae or resume
3. A letter of support from the nominee’s Department Head or Director or Supervisor; whichever is most appropriate.

Upon being named as a finalist in their category each nominee will be asked to create a poster for presentation for the Excellence in Outreach and Public Engagement Awards Reception where the $1,000 award winner in each category will be announced.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

The office of the Vice Provost for Public University Outreach will appoint the selection committee, comprised of three faculty members, one academic professional, one staff member and one student.

AWARDS NOMINATION PROCESS SCHEDULE

• August 7 - 28 — Distribute Request for Nominations for the Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement.
• October 5 — Nominations are due in the Office of the Provost
• October 22 — Notify the finalist.  There will be 3 finalist from each category- Faculty, Staff, Program, Undergraduate, Graduate.  Each will be notified and will be requested to create a poster – put it on a CD and the committee will have them produced.  Notify their Department Head, Dean and/or Director.
• November 14 — Poster CD’s are due to the Office of the Provost.  Invitations are sent out to the University community and RSVP’s are requested
• November 27th — Awards for Excellence in Outreach and Public Engagement Reception to be held at the Wilbur Cross Building.  Posters set up earlier in the day — Moved into reception area at 3:30 PM.  Reception starts at 4:00 with viewing — award ceremony at 5:00 PM.   Hot and cold Hors D’oeuvres will be served with a Cash Bar, Punch, bottled water and desserts.

  Send nomination forms to:

  Office of the Provost
  Attention: Kathy Slowik
  Gulley Hall
  352 Mansfield Road, Unit 2086
  University of Connecticut
  Storrs, CT  06269