Shelbie Harris
Staff Writer
Idaho State University is requesting nominations be submitted so that three faculty members can be selected for the 2014-2015 Distinguished Faculty awards.
Candidates can be nominated for awards that include Distinguished Teacher, Distinguished Service and Distinguished Researcher awards, with the recipients being honored during a reception in April and recognized during the 2015 commencement exercises.
It was the support of former President Myron L. Coulter that sparked the conception of the program for Distinguished Faculty Awards back in 1977.
Initially, the award solely recognized a distinguished teacher until, 11 years later, the value of research was embodied with the first Distinguished Researcher award being added the list.
The following year, 1989, marked the first time ISU recognized faculty members who have made significant contributions in service to the university and society.
“The [awards] are a way for various constituent groups to recognize faculty members for their efforts in teaching, in service and in research,” said Management Assistant of Academic Affairs Connie Tillotson.
Faculty who have exemplified excellence in teaching and have also made significant contributions in teaching to the university are eligible for nomination.
Nominees must be a faculty member in their third or subsequent year of full time service at ISU and will continue to contribute services for the 2015-2016 academic year.
The Distinguished Teacher award nominations can be submitted by a wide variety of ISU community members.
“If somebody feels like they have merit and should be considered for the Distinguished Teacher award, nominations can be made by any ISU faculty member, or made by fellow peers and colleagues,” Tillotson said.
“Nominations can be made by staff members, the student body and alumni can nominate a teacher if they feel that they meet the necessary criteria,” she added.
Last year’s recipient of the Distinguished Teacher award was Kelly Pesnell, assistant clinical professor at the ISU School of Nursing.
She teaches clinical and theoretical courses in primary care, advanced health assessment, and evidence based practice at the Meridian campus.
She was also recognized for her focus on developing unique clinical practice opportunities for nurse practitioner students while addressing the needs of an increasingly global society.
The award for Distinguished Service is judged on criteria that would signify major contributions in service to the University. Examples for submission include workshops and presentations delivered and support of various groups amongst the community of ISU.
“The service award is nominated by other ISU faculty members,” Tillotson said.
“They can recognize their colleagues, by upper administration including department chair, vice president and dean of the department and of course by the public,” she continued.
Lastly the award for Distinguished Researcher is selected based amongst many categories, some including the significance or impact of the research in which the individual has conducted, the publication of such research and the mentorship of successful students.
As far as selecting the winner of the awards goes, it depends on the award category itself.
In previous years the Distinguished Teachers and Distinguished Service awards top five candidates are chosen by a committee that is comprised of previous award winners from years prior.
Ultimately the decision for the award winners falls in the hands of the Provost and Academic Affairs.
In the case of the Distinguished Researcher award that winner is selected by Howard Grimes, the Vice President for the Office for Research & Economic Development.
The award winner for Distinguished Teacher will lead the faculty processional at commencement and will also represent teaching excellence at ISU by carrying the Institutional Mace.
The award winner for Distinguished Researcher will be given a cash reward of $3,000.
The award nominations for Distinguished Teacher and Distinguished Service are both due by Jan. 23, 2015. Completed nomination forms are to be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.
The deadline for submitting a nomination for Distinguished Researcher is due by 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 17.
