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Graduate School Awards

Graduate School > Administration > Graduate Awards

G R A D U A T E   S C H O O L   A W A R D S

for Outstanding Teaching, Research, Service, Thesis & Dissertation

Introduction:

At the beginning of each fall semester, each division with graduate students establishes one or more committees to determine the division's winners of outstanding teaching, research, service, thesis, and dissertation awards. The dossiers of the divisional winners are forwarded to the Graduate School, where the divisional winners compete for the University-wide awards listed below. On Honors Day, each of the seven winners receives a framed certificate from the Graduate School, as well as a check for $500. College or school winners who do not win one of the UA-wide awards described below will receive a congratulatory letter and Award of Merit from the Dean of the Graduate School. Awards procedures and timelines are explained in the following links:

1. Outstanding Teaching by a Master's Student

2. Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student

3. Outstanding Research by a Master's Student

4. Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student

5. Outstanding Thesis

6. Outstanding Dissertation

7. Outstanding Service by a Graduate Student

Winners of the Graduate School Awards:

Academic Year

Teaching Master’s

Teaching Doctoral

Research Masters

Research Doctoral

Thesis

Dissertation

Ann Visser A&S (CH)

2001-2002

Geoffrey Trumbo A&S (EH/CW)

Clare Clifford A&S (EH)

David Gamble Educ (REHAB COUN)

Marcus Boccaccini A&S (PY)

Brent Boudreaux A&S (CH)

Karen Boykin Engr (CEE)

2000-2001

Michael Shiffler A&S (BSC)

Sondra Yarbrough Educ. (SEC)

Matthew Gage A&S (ANT)

Trent Selby A&S (CH)

Benjamin Murphy Engr. (ME)

Dorina Miron CCIS (MC)

1999-2000

Jonathan Birdnow CCIS (COMM ST)

Stanley Davis C&BA (ACC)

Marcus Boccaccini A&S (PY)

Gary Ervin A&S (BSC)

Maurice Manning A&S (EH/CW)

Susan Stewart A&S (PH & AY)

1998-1999

Andrew Duncan A&S (EH/CW)

Amy Vessel Educ. (ELEM)

Peggy Renner A&S (PY)

Kevin Roe A&S (BSC)

Stefano Lepre Engr. (AEM)

Igor Terekhov A&S (PH & AY)

1997-1998

Melissa Huseman A&S (EH/CW)

Sandra Willis A&S (PY)

Theodore Worozbyt A&S (EH/CW)

David Williams A&S (GEOL)

Mary Bennett Engr. (ME)

C. Michele Davis A&S (CH)

1996-1997

Catherine Rosemurgy A&S (EH)

Sunya Collier Educ. (ELEM)

Michelle Larson A&S (GEOL)

Catherine Davis A&S (CH)

Vikram Gopal Engr. (ChE)

David Anderson A&S (BSC)

1995-1996

Douglas Coulter Engr. (ECE)

Seungoog Weun C&BA (MKT)

Xingwang Ma Engr. (ECE)

Leslie Hester C&BA (MKT)

David Morgan A&S (ANT)

Zhaodong Lu Engr. (ChE)

1994-1995

Julie Halstead CCIS (SP COM)

M. Shane Spiller C&BA (MKT)

Jacqueline Bichsel A&S (PY)

Berry Tew A&S (GEOL)

Madeline Brown A&S (EH/CW)

George Nixon A&S (PSC)

1993-1994

Jeanne Leiby A&S (EH/CW)

Shaun Amos A&S (MUS)

Daniel Bowman A&S (PY)

Andrew Simons A&S (BSC)

Michael Howe A&S (BSC)

John Burnett C&BA (EFLS)

1992-1993

Dale Tietjen A&S (EH/CW)

Steven Woodruff C&BA (MKT)

Samuel Rogers Engr. (CS)

Terry Puckett A&S (GEOL)

Kevin Callahan Engr. (AEM)

Merlin Newton A&S (HY)

1991-1992

Shannon Sadler A&S (EH)

Linda Frank A&S (PY)

Robert Falls Engr. (ME)

Steven Layman A&S (BSC)

Julie Hedgepeth CCIS (JN)

Woon Ki Lim A&S (BSC)

1990-1991

Julie Hedgepeth CCIS (JN)

James Finch C&BA (EFLS)

Nanci Kincaid A&S (EH/CW)

Roger Brewer A&S (GEOL)

Agneta Johannsen A&S (ANT)

Ann Henley A&S (EH)

Because the divisions are organized differently, specific procedures for selecting divisional winners shall be determined in the respective divisions. The general procedures are as follows:

2. In early September the divisional dean will forward the names of the divisional committee members and the name of the chair of the committee to John Schmitt (102 Rose).  Divisional committees should have at least three faculty members.

3. Each department or area may nominate to the divisional committee one graduate student for the master's award. Materials supporting the department/area nominees should include the name, address, and local phone number of the nominee.  (Please use the teaching dossier checklist to be sure that each dossier has all of the required information.)

4. By January 9 the divisional review committee will select one nominee for the award and forward seven (7) copies of the nominee's dossier to John Schmitt (102 Rose).

5. By January 16 the Graduate Council’s Committee on Teaching, Research and Service Awards will receive the nomination materials. The committee will have from January 19 to January 23 to review the materials, rank-order the nominees, and select one University-wide winner

6. The Dean of the Graduate School will present a certificate and an award of $500 honoring the winner during the Honors Week activities in the student's division. We recommend that each division's nominee should receive a certificate from the divisional dean and, if feasible, an award of $100 or more from the divisional budget as part of the divisional Honors Week activities. College or school winners who do not win the UA-wide award will receive a congratulatory letter and Award of Merit from the Dean of the Graduate School.

7. Please see: Suggestions for Teaching Award Nomination Letters

Questions concerning these procedures may be directed to John Schmitt, Office of the Graduate School, Room 102 Rose Administration, 348-8283.  Fax: 205-348-0400.  e-mail: jschmitt@ua.edu

B. Outstanding Teaching by a Doctoral Student

1. The individuals nominated must be enrolled in either semester of the current academic year, have a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), must have had major responsibility for teaching at least 2 semesters at .50 FTE or 3 semesters at .25 FTE, and must be available for an interview in the spring of the current academic year.

2. In early September the divisional dean will forward the names of the divisional committee members and the name of the chair/convener of the committee to John Schmitt (102 Rose).  Divisional committees should have at least three faculty members.

3. Each department or area may nominate to the divisional committee one graduate student for the doctoral award. Materials supporting the department/area nominees should include the name, address, and local phone number of the nominee.  (Please use the teaching dossier checklist to be sure that each dossier has all of the required information.)

4. By January 9 the divisional review committee will select one nominee for the award and forward seven (7) copies of the nominee's dossier to John Schmitt (102 Rose).

5. By January 16 the Graduate Council’s Committee on Teaching, Research and Service Awards will receive the nomination materials. The committee will have from January 19 to January 23 to review the materials, rank-order the nominees, and select one University-wide winner

6. The Dean of the Graduate School will present a certificate and an award of $500 honoring the winner during the Honors Week activities in the student's division. We recommend that each division's nominee receive a certificate from the divisional dean and, if feasible, an award of $100 or more from the divisional budget as part of the divisional Honors Week activities. College or school winners who do not win the UA-wide award will receive a congratulatory letter and Award of Merit from the Dean of the Graduate School.

7. Please see: Suggestions for Teaching Award Nomination Letters

Teaching Checklist

DOSSIER CHECKLIST FOR NOMINEES FOR OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARDS (Master’s & Doctoral) is available: MS .doc version | PDF version. Use this form as a cover sheet for divisional nominations.

C. Outstanding Research by a Master's Student

Because the divisions are organized differently, specific procedures for selecting the divisional nominees shall be determined within each unit. The general procedures are as follows:  

2. In early September the divisional dean will forward the names of the divisional committee members and the name of the chair of the committee to John Schmitt (102 Rose).  Divisional committees should have no fewer than three faculty members.

3. Each department/area may nominate to the divisional committee one person for the master's research award. The materials submitted for each nominee must describe clearly (in non-technical terms) each nominee's actual involvement in the research, with emphasis on primary responsibilities of the student.  Involvement of the student in the research activity should be extensive enough that he/she would be eligible to serve as senior author of a publication or primary presenter if the research results were presented at a conference.  (Please use the research dossier checklist to be sure that each dossier has all of the required information.)

4. By January 9 the divisional review committee will select one nominee for the award and   forward seven (7) copies of the nominee's credentials to John Schmitt (102 Rose).

5. By January 16 the Graduate Council’s Committee on Teaching, Research and Service Awards will receive the nomination materials. The committee will have from January 19 to January 23 to review the materials, rank-order the nominees, and select one University-wide winner

6. The Dean of the Graduate School will present a certificate and an award of $500 honoring the winner during the Honors Week activities in the student's division. We recommend that the divisional nominees for each award receive a certificate from the divisional dean and, if feasible, an award of $100 or more from the divisional budget as part of the divisional Honors Week activities. College or school winners who do not win the UA-wide award will receive a congratulatory letter and Award of Merit from the Dean of the Graduate School.

7. Please see: Suggestions for Research Award Nomination Letters

D. Outstanding Research by a Doctoral Student

Because the divisions are organized differently, specific procedures for selecting the divisional nominees shall be determined within each unit. The general procedures are as follows:  

2. In early September the divisional dean will forward the names of the divisional committee members and the name of the chair/convener of the committee(s) to John Schmitt (102 Rose).  Divisional committees should have no fewer than three faculty members.

3. Each department/area may nominate to the divisional committee one person for the award. The materials submitted for each nominee must describe clearly (in non-technical terms) each nominee's actual involvement in the research, with emphasis on primary responsibilities of the student.  Involvement of the student in the research activity should be extensive enough that he/she would be eligible to serve as senior author of a publication or primary presenter if the research results were presented at a conference. The nomination should make a clear statement of what part of the body of research was completed at the doctoral level. (Please use the research dossier checklist to be sure that each dossier has all of the required information.)

4. By January 9 the divisional review committee will select one nominee for the award and   forward seven (7) copies of the nominee's credentials to John Schmitt (102 Rose).

5. By January 16 the Graduate Council’s Committee on Teaching, Research and Service Awards will receive the nomination materials. The committee will have from January 19 to January 23 to review the materials, rank-order the nominees, and select one University-wide winner

6. The Dean of the Graduate School will present a certificate and an award of $500 honoring the winner during the Honors Week activities in the student's division.  We recommend that the divisional nominees for the award receive a certificate from the divisional dean and, if feasible, an award of $100 or more from the divisional budget as part of the divisional Honors Week activities. College or school winners who do not win the UA-wide award will receive a congratulatory letter and Award of Merit from the Dean of the Graduate School.

7. Please see: Suggestions for Research Award Nomination Letters

Questions concerning these procedures may be directed to John Schmitt, Office of the Graduate School, Room 102 Rose Administration, 348-8283. Fax: 205-348-0400. e-mail: jschmitt@ua.edu

Research Checklist

DOSSIER CHECKLIST FOR NOMINEES FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH AWARDS (Master’s & Doctoral) is available: MS .doc Version | PDF Version. Use this form as a cover sheet for divisional nominations

E. Outstanding Thesis and Outstanding Dissertation

Note. The number of masters theses that may be nominated are as follows:  Arts & Sciences-3; Engineering-2; and all others-1.  The doctoral dissertations that may be nominated are as follows:  Arts & Sciences-3; Education-3; Commerce & Business Administration-2; and all others-1. The procedures are as follows:

2. Deans will appoint divisional committees of at least three graduate faculty members to review theses/dissertations submitted by their students and to select no more than the number listed above. The names of members of divisional committees are due to John Schmitt in the Graduate School by the end of the first week in September.  It is suggested that departments submit the nomination materials to their respective divisional committees by late September or the first week in October, with the specific date determined by the chair of the divisional committee. Each divisional committee will send its nomination(s) to John Schmitt in the Graduate School by November 6, 2008.

Criteria for the Service Award

• A broad range of service activities by graduate students may apply.
• The committee gives strong consideration to the quality, quantity, and duration of the nominee's service activities.
• The service may or may not be directly related to the student’s academic discipline.
• If the service activities are related to the discipline, the award may recognize special service appropriate to the student’s discipline at the local, state, national, or international level, and/or service focused internally and directed toward the University and its students; it can recognize outstanding service activity that brings honor and recognition to the student, the student’s division, the profession, and the University.
• The service must go beyond the student’s duties and responsibilities related to participation in a class, a thesis or dissertation, a graduate assistantship, or any other type of paid employment.
• The service might involve provision of in-service training to external groups in areas appropriate to one’s discipline and expertise or the provision of continuing education.
• The service might focus on the development of outcome-based research opportunities in business/industry, labor, or consumer groups, schools, or voluntary agencies.
• The service may be volunteer activity that brings honor and recognition to the student, the student’s division, the profession, and the University.
• The service might include a documented advisory role and responsibility for official student organization(s) and might include activities and outcomes related to enhancement of student life.

Contents of the Dossier Submitted to the Graduate School

• cover memo from college or school awards committee chair, indicating that the submitted dossier is for the student who is the college or school's award winner
• letter (required) from faculty member making the nomination; letter outlines the nominee’s qualifications for receipt of the award
•  other support letters (optional) may be included, to a maximum of 3
• 1-page student description of service activities and reasons for being involved in the activities (required)
• CV/resume (required)

Procedures

1. The individuals nominated must have been enrolled in either semester of the previous academic year, with a graduate GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and must agree to be nominated.
2. In early September the divisional dean will forward the names of the divisional committee members and the name of the chair of the committee to John Schmitt (102 Rose).  Divisional committees should have no fewer than three faculty members.
3. Each department or area may nominate to the divisional committee one graduate student for the award. Materials supporting the department/area nominees should include the name, address, and local phone number of the nominee.
4. By January 9 the divisional review committee will select one nominee for the award and forward seven (7) copies of the nominee's dossier to John Schmitt (102 Rose).
5. By January 16 the Graduate Council’s Committee on Teaching, Research and Service Awards will receive the nomination materials. The committee will have from January 19 to January 23 to review the materials, rank-order the nominees, and select one University-wide winner.
6. The Dean of the Graduate School will present a certificate and an award of $500 honoring the winner during the Honors Week activities in the student's division. We recommend that each division's nominee should receive a certificate from the divisional dean and, if feasible, an award of $100 or more from the divisional budget as part of the divisional Honors Week activities.  As with all other Graduate School University-wide awards, college or school winners who do not win the UA-wide award will receive a congratulatory letter from the Dean of the Graduate and an Award of Merit.