Faculty Senate Resolution #09-34

Approved by the Faculty Senate: September 15, 2009
Approved by the Chancellor: October 15, 2009

University Academic Awards Committee

Procedures for Annual Lifetime and Five-Year Achievement

University Research/Creative Activity Awards

Title
Procedures for Annual Lifetime and Five-Year Achievement University Research/Creative Activity Awards

Objective
To reward originality and excellence in research and creative activities as evidenced by sustained high quality work performed while contributing to the academic functions of East Carolina University at any rank or status.

Awards Per Year
A maximum of one Lifetime Achievement Research/Creative Activity Award. A maximum of two Five-Year Achievement Research/Creative Activity Awards.

Review Procedures
In September (October/November for 2009/10 process), all academic units will be notified of the opportunity to nominate applicants for either a Lifetime or a Five-Year Achievement University Research/Creative Activity Award. Department-level academic units (to include ‘areas of concentration’ in the School of Art) may select candidates for each award (Lifetime or Five-Year) for consideration at the University level. Nominations may also be forwarded directly from the individual candidate or any collegial representative of the candidate’s field of work.

Each nomination must include a cover letter detailing the contributions of the nominee to his or her field of work over the period of the intended award. The nominating letter must specify for which award the candidate is to be considered (Lifetime or Five-Year). Consideration for the five-year award must focus on the candidate's research or creative achievements during five years of continuous service at East Carolina University. Consideration for the Lifetime award must focus on the candidate's research or creative achievements sustained over their entire career with an emphasis on work accomplished at East Carolina University.

Nominations arising from academic units must be put in perspective of the unit's stated criteria for evaluating faculty research and creative activities. Independent nominations must include a similar statement of perspective, specifying criteria against which the applicant may wish to be judged. The core of the submission will be the presented evidence of the candidate's productivity and of the value and influence of the work according to peer review and any other help that can be provided for the committee's considerations.

The nominator must request and include three letters of recommendation from outside of ECU, on institutional stationery, providing evaluations of the candidate’s accomplishments and contributions to the field of work for purposes of these award considerations. Recommendation letters should describe and emphasize the impact of the body of work on the applicant's field of scholarship. The request for outside reference letters must require that any present or past relationships between the referee and the candidate be specified.

The nominating letter, the nominee's complete curriculum vitae, and three letters from outside referees must be submitted to the Academic Awards Committee on or before November 1st of each year. (For 2009/10 applicants, the deadline is December 7, 2009.)

The selection committee (composed of members of the Academic Awards Committee) will review applicants' materials in the perspective of the criteria governing evaluation of research or creative activity in the academic unit/s most closely representing the candidates' respective fields of work. The primary criterion of the committee's evaluation will be the impact of the body of work on the applicant's field of scholarship.

In December, (February for 2009/10 process) the Academic Awards Committee will forward the names of those selected for the awards (Lifetime Achievement and Five-Year Achievement) to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies.  The Vice Chancellor will review the candidates’ research materials and make the public announcement of these awards.