Research Awards

East Carolina University Awards for Excellence in Research or Creative Activity

8-30-10

Faculty members within all academic units are eligible to be nominated each Fall for one of the East Carolina University Awards for Excellence in Research or Creative Activity. There are a maximum of one Lifetime Achievement Research/Creative Activity Award and two Five-Year Achievement Research/Creative Activity Awards given annually. Link to full resolution governing these awards.

These awards carry a monetary prize and are presented in a special awards ceremony each spring. The objective of the award recognition is 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.

Department-level academic units (to include ‘areas of concentration’ in the School of Art) may select candidates for one of the research awards 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. 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.

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 Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes accomplishments made across the entire span of the candidate's professional lifetime. 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.

Evaluation Process

September	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.
November 1	Submission of 7 copies of each nominee’s materials (nominating letter, nominee's complete curriculum vitae, and 3 letters from outside referees) to the Academic Awards Committee via the Faculty Senate office, 140 Rawl Annex. No additional information will be accepted after this deadline.
November-December	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 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.
December	The Academic Awards Committee will forward the names of those selected for the three awards to the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies.
January	The Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies will review the candidates’ research materials in accordance with the approved award procedures.
February	The Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies will send letters of award recognition to recipients and members of the Academic Awards Committee and letters of appreciation to all award nominees. This will be done prior to the public announcement of these awards.