2025-2026 University Scholars Nominations
University Scholar Award
Application Deadline: November 21, 2025
The University Scholar Award is designed to recognize a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching, service, or scholarship.
Award Details
Each recipient will receive a recognition plaque and $2,500 for scholarly endeavors, creative-activity support, or professional development. These funds can be used to support any contractually appropriate activity agreed upon by the respective dean and faculty member.
The funds must be used within 12 months of the award date. An extension may be requested for an additional 12 months.
Award winners will be announced in March and honored during the annual Dragon Excellence Awards ceremony.
Recipients will be required to present a lecture, exhibition, or performance at the following year’s Student Academic Conference or other on-campus appropriate venues.
Eligibility
A tenured faculty member who has achieved the rank of Associate Professor or higher, and
A faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding teaching, service, or scholarship in three successive years, as judged by the faculty member’s department and immediate supervisor (per Article 22), and
Individuals who have announced upcoming retirement or past retirees are not eligible.
Selection Criteria
The selection of University Scholars will be based on faculty-presented evidence of one or more of the following:
Number and quality of scholarly publications.
Creativity and/or recognition in artistic works.
Progress in establishing or developing a research program.
High-level of instructional effectiveness.
Other scholarly activities performed at an exemplary level.
Award recipients are eligible to win the award once every four years and will maintain the title associated with the award for the duration of their MSUM tenure.
Award recipient shall be determined solely by the exercise of Presidential discretion.
Nomination Procedure
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Nominations may be made by any member of the University community. Self-nominations are acceptable.
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Nomination packets must include:
An executive summary by the nominee summarizing the nominee’s body of work and its impact on the discipline or field of study. The executive summary must be in a language that is accessible to an interdisciplinary audience and may not exceed five double-spaced pages.
Evidence of accomplishments that exemplify the nominee’s work and the impact on the discipline or field of study.
Three letters of support: one from the Department, the Dean, and a community or professional colleague.
An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
Nomination packet must be signed by the nominee, the Department, and the Dean.