Nominations open for some of WMU's most prestigious awards

KALAMAZOO--Nominations are now being accepted for Western Michigan University's 2012-13 Distinguished Service, Distinguished Teaching and Emerging Scholar awards.

These are some of the most prestigious awards that the University bestows on its faculty and staff members.

They may be won only once and will be presented early in fall semester during WMU's Academic Convocation, which also features the president's State of the University address and presentation of the annual Distinguished Scholar and Make a Difference awards.

• Nominations for the Distinguished Service Award are due at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 30. This award is presented to one or two employees (if two, one recipient will be a faculty member and one will be a staff member). It recognizes exceptional service to the University through innovative and effective programs, service in areas and organizations that contribute to WMU's growth and stature, or service that extends WMU's presence and impact.
  
  Current continuing full‐time faculty and administrative staff members who have at least five years of University service are eligible to receive the award. Nominations may be cast by current continuing full‐time faculty and administrative staff members.
• Nominations for the Distinguished Teaching Award are due Monday, April 2. This award is presented to a maximum of three faculty members. It recognizes exceptional educators and mentors who demonstrate outstanding dedication and is the University's highest teaching honor.
  
  Board-appointed full-time faculty members who teach undergraduate or graduate students are eligible to receive the award. Nominations may be cast by students, alumni, past teaching award recipients and faculty members who are eligible to receive the award. Nominations from administrators and self-nominations are not accepted.
• Nominations for the Emerging Scholar Award are due at 5 p.m. Monday, April 2. This award is presented to a maximum of three faculty members who are among the rising stars in U.S. higher education. It recognizes scholars and creative artists who have had an impact beyond as well as on as their disciplines and have gained international recognition, thereby demonstrating outstanding promise to achieve renown in their continuing work.
  
  Current board-appointed continuing full-time individuals with faculty rank who are in good standing and were tenured no earlier than January 2008 are eligible to receive the award. Nominations may be cast by all members of the University community.

Visit the Office of the Provost website for eligibility requirements, nomination criteria and nomination forms for all three awards.