Faculty Awards

In order to recognize the tremendous contributions made by SMTD faculty in areas of teaching, scholarship, creative activity, mentoring, and service, the SMTD Office for Faculty Development administers both internal awards and coordinates nominations for university-level awards. We encourage nominations of faculty at all ranks and years of experience to be considered by the Faculty Awards and Executive Committees.

Department Chairs and SMTD faculty can submit nominations, however, self-nominations are not permitted. All nominations are due May 31 for the following academic year.

SMTD administers several faculty award nominations throughout the year. Contact the Office for Faculty Development at [email protected] for assistance.

Award nomination opportunities are organized by appointment type.

Please use the form to submit your nominations.

Note: Years in rank is calculated for the year of formal nomination by the Executive Committee, which will be the year after the department chair’s nomination.

Clinical/Adjunct Faculty

Collegiate Lecturer Program
University-wide award for excellence in teaching and learning, service, or other contribution to the university. Employees who hold the title of Lecturer II or Lecturer IV with at least 10 years of employment, have completed 2 major reviews, and are not on full layoff are eligible for nomination.

Faculty Award for Mentorship
Internal SMTD award to recognize the contributions made by the SMTD faculty in mentoring and service. Nominees should have a sustained record of supporting other faculty, for example, through serving on LAUNCH and welcoming committees, as an official mentor, or as an unofficial faculty mentor at SMTD.

Harold Haugh Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize excellence in private studio teaching. Open to Composition, Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation, Organ, Piano, Strings, Voice, and Winds & Percussion departments only. The recipient gives a lecture/recital.

Teaching Excellence Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize the unique teaching practices that happen in traditional and non-traditional academic spaces, and outside of one-on-one studio instruction. Open to any SMTD department. The recipient of this award will deliver a lecture or a lecture-demonstration.

Assistant Professors

Faculty Award for Mentorship
Internal SMTD award to recognize the contributions made by the SMTD faculty in mentoring and service. Nominees should have a sustained record of supporting other faculty, for example, through serving on LAUNCH and welcoming committees, as an official mentor, or as an unofficial faculty mentor at SMTD.

Harold Haugh Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize excellence in private studio teaching. Open to Composition, Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation, Organ, Piano, Strings, Voice, and Winds & Percussion departments only. The recipient gives a lecture/recital.

Henry Russel Award
University-wide award to celebrate faculty early in their academic careers who already have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishment in scholarship, research, creativity, and teaching. Nominees should be tenure-track instructional faculty with no more than 6 years in their current rank at the time of nomination.

Teaching Excellence Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize the unique teaching practices that happen in traditional and non-traditional academic spaces, and outside of one-on-one studio instruction. Open to any SMTD department. The recipient of this award will deliver a lecture or a lecture-demonstration.

Associate Professors

John H. D’Arms Graduate Mentoring
University-wide award to recognize tenured faculty who are outstanding mentors of doctoral students (both Ph.D. and DMA programs), who support their intellectual, creative, scholarly, and professional growth and foster a culture of intellectual engagement in which students thrive.

Faculty Award for Mentorship
Internal SMTD award to recognize the contributions made by the SMTD faculty in mentoring and service. Nominees should have a sustained record of supporting other faculty, for example, through serving on LAUNCH and welcoming committees, as an official mentor, or as an unofficial faculty mentor at SMTD.

Faculty Recognition Award
University-wide award to celebrate faculty who have demonstrated remarkable contributions to the university through outstanding achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors; excellence as a teacher, advisor, and mentor; and distinguished participation in the service activities of the university and elsewhere. Tenured professors with no more than four years in rank may be nominated for this award.

Harold Haugh Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize excellence in private studio teaching. Open to Composition, Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation, Organ, Piano, Strings, Voice, and Winds & Percussion departments only. The recipient gives a lecture/recital.

Henry Russel Award
University-wide award to celebrate faculty early in their academic careers who already have demonstrated an extraordinary record of accomplishment in scholarship, research, creativity, and teaching. Nominees should be tenure-track instructional faculty with no more than 6 years in their current rank at the time of nomination.

Teaching Excellence Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize the unique teaching practices that happen in traditional and non-traditional academic spaces, and outside of one-on-one studio instruction. Open to any SMTD department. The recipient of this award will deliver a lecture or a lecture-demonstration.

Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship
University-wide award recognizing tenured faculty for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Nominees should have a sustained record of excellence in teaching and learning and a demonstrable impact on students’ intellectual and/or artistic development.

Full Professors

Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award
University-wide award to honor senior faculty who have consistently demonstrated outstanding achievements in the areas of scholarly research and/or creative endeavors, teaching and mentoring of students and junior faculty, service and related activities that have brought distinction to themselves and to the university.

Distinguished University Professorship
University-wide award to recognize senior faculty with exceptional scholarly and/or creative achievements, national and international reputations for academic excellence, and superior records of teaching, mentoring, and service.

Faculty Award for Mentorship
Internal SMTD award to recognize the contributions made by the SMTD faculty in mentoring and service. Nominees should have a sustained record of supporting other faculty, for example, through serving on LAUNCH and welcoming committees, as an official mentor, or as an unofficial faculty mentor at SMTD.

Faculty Recognition Award
University-wide award to celebrate faculty who have demonstrated remarkable contributions to the university through outstanding achievements in scholarly research and/or creative endeavors; excellence as a teacher, advisor, and mentor; and distinguished participation in the service activities of the university and elsewhere. Tenured professors with no more than four years in rank may be nominated for this award.

Harold Haugh Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize excellence in private studio teaching. Open to Composition, Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation, Organ, Piano, Strings, Voice, and Winds & Percussion departments only. The recipient gives a lecture/recital.

Henry Russel Lectureship
University-wide award to recognize a senior faculty member with exceptional achievements in research, scholarship, and/or creative endeavors, and an outstanding record of distinguished teaching, mentoring, and service to the university and wider communities.

Teaching Excellence Award
Internal SMTD award to recognize the unique teaching practices that happen in traditional and non-traditional academic spaces, and outside of one-on-one studio instruction. Open to any SMTD department. The recipient of this award will deliver a lecture or a lecture-demonstration.

Arthur F. Thurnau Professorship
University-wide award recognizing tenured faculty for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Nominees should have a sustained record of excellence in teaching and learning and a demonstrable impact on students’ intellectual and/or artistic development.