Assembly Announces Establishment of Faculty Excellence Award

Managing Editor

 
   MONTICELLO - The Faculty Excellence Award at the University of Arkansas at Monticello is now named the Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award.

   Angela Marsh, chair of the award committee and associate professor in the School of Computer Information Systems, announced the change during an assembly meeting April 22.

   Charlotte and Dan Hornaday donated funds for an endowment to the university. Because of memories the Hornadays have of UAM, they wanted to honor the outstanding faculty who mentored them. 

   The award is a monetary award recognizing and awarding faculty excellence. The award consists of a cash gift and certificate.  It will be presented annually to one faculty member. Finalists for the award will also receive a certificate, according to the newly revised Appendix D of the faculty handbook.

   The appendix states the award “Recognizes an individual who demonstrates excellence in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service.”

   Marsh said the committee wanted to involve more of the university community, so now faculty members may be nominated by other faculty, administration, staff, students and alumni. Previously only unit heads could nominate faculty.

   She said eligibility for the award includes:

• Faculty status such as holding full-time appointments, being evaluated annually and teaching at least 12 hours annually.
• Faculty with administrative responsibilities are ineligible.
• The recipient of the award will not be eligible to receive the award again within five years after receiving it.

   Philip Tappe, associate dean and professor of wildlife management, questioned the minimum of 12 hours of teaching annually.

   Tappe said the majority of faculty in his department does not teach 12 hours, making them ineligible.

   Marsha Clayton, chair of the assembly and associate professor of business administration, explained 12 hours of teaching annually would allow enough teaching evaluations to make a decision.

   Clayton said comments may be sent for consideration.

   Tappe said he plans to write to the committee.

   Clayton said the chancellor’s office would call for nominations in February 2011.

   Marsh explained two separate committees would review the nominations.

   The nomination committee consists of four members: a student appointed by the Student Government Association president, the faculty member who received the award from two years previous (who will serve as chair of the committee), a member of the administration appointed by the chancellor and a faculty member appointed by the assembly chair.

   The committee would submit five nominees to the selection committee, who would select the recipient of the Hornaday Outstanding Faculty Award.

   The selection committee consists of three members: the previous year’s award recipient (who will serve as chair of the committee) and two faculty members selected from the academic schools.

   The recipient of the award would be announced during spring commencement at UAM. The recipient and the finalists would be recognized during Professional Development Week at the beginning of the fall semester each year.

   Scott Kuttenkuler, director of advancement, spoke at the assembly meeting. He said he spent time with the Hornadays and they explained the impact professors make on students.

   He told the faculty in attendance, “You are the people who make their memories.”