Solicitation for Nominations

The University of Southern Mississippi

THE INNOVATION AWARDS

Each year the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRE) seeks to identify and reward members of the university community that have made outstanding research, creative and other scholarly contributions. These awards will celebrate the outstanding scholarly careers of our most productive and influential faculty members in the areas of basic research, applied research, academic partnerships, and creative activities. Innovation Awards are open to both tenured and non-tenured staff. Each year we will also honor the scholarly work of one fitting graduate student. Finally, when warranted, the VPRE will honor a truly outstanding faculty member's scholarly career with an Innovations Lifetime Award.

These are significant honors to be bestowed on individuals with significant research or creative careers that stand out from the generally impressive work of our colleagues. There is a significant cash award, as well as support to further awardees scholarly efforts. A medallion, to be worn at commencements will mark USM's outstanding scholars.

SOLICITATION OF NOMINATIONS

On behalf of the VPRE, the University Research Council (URC) is soliciting nominations from each dean of individuals for each Innovation Award category as described below. They may forward the names of two nominees for each award category. Faculty members can make recommendations to the dean through their chair, who will provide a list of names by November 16, 2007. Self-nominations are not permitted. Deans can consult with their college's Research Committee to narrow the field to two nominees per category. The deans will send a list of nominees from each college to the URC ( Box 5157 ) by December 3, 2007.

PROCESS FOR APPLICANT AND WINNERS SELECTION

The URC will send each nominee a request for data to support the nomination. An individual can decline the nomination. If an individual elects to submit his/her name, their application materials must be returned by January 25, 2008. Applications will be evaluated by the URC. Recommendations will be made by the URC to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development by March 7, 2008.

AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT AND PRESENTATION

Innovation Award recipients will be notified by March 31, 2008. The Innovation Awards will be announced in conjunction with Founder's Day on March 31, 2008. The awards will be officially presented at LETTERS (Lives Enriched Through Their Endeavors: Research and Scholarship) Day in September 2008. Recipients will also be expected to give a brief presentation on their research as part of the LETTERS Day activities.

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CATEGORIES OF AWARDS

There are three categories of faculty Innovation Awards and a student award:

Innovation Lifetime Contribution Award
A tenured member of the senior faculty whose scholarly or creative career has made a very significant impact on their discipline, as perceived not only by our university’s faculty community, but also by other members of that profession. This award will be periodic and awards of the other Innovation Awards categories do not affect eligibility.

Innovation Awards
Innovations Awards will be awards for outstanding contributions to their fields. Three Innovations Awards will be given each year, one in each of the areas of Basic Research, Applied Research, and Creative Activities. The nominees should have a strong, innovative, and significant pattern of scholarly or creative work that has had an identifiable impact on their discipline. This is a onetime award, but does not preclude eligibility for the Innovations Lifetime Contribution Award.

Innovation Academic Partnership Award
This award honors a faculty member at the University of Southern Mississippi whose research, scholarship, or creative works significantly improved the lives of Mississippians through partnerships with nonprofits, citizen groups, business, or government agencies.

Innovation Graduate Student Scholarship Award
In addition to the three faculty awards categories, an innovations award will honor one graduate student that has produced an exemplary scholarly or creative product.

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INNOVATION AWARDS
SELECTION GUIDELINES

Process for Applicant and Winners Selection

1. In the October of each academic year, the URC will send a memorandum to each Dean requesting nominations that meet the following criteria:
   1. Faculty Awards
      1. Individuals in his/her college who represent the highest standards of Basic Research (up to two), Applied Research (up to two), Creative Activities (up to two), and Academic Partnerships (up to two).
      2. An individual who has won an award cannot be nominated for five years. Only tenure track faculty are eligible for nomination. URC members cannot be nominated.
   2. Student Awards
      1. Full-time graduate students in his/her college who represent the highest standards of Research, Scholarly, or Creative Activity (up to two).

   In addition to the request to the Dean, a request to all faculty for the nomination of individuals for an award in the categories listed above will be distributed by campus electronic mail.
   
   Faculty members are encouraged to submit the names of other faculty or students for nomination to the dean of their college. Faculty who consider themselves worthy of nomination can request nomination by an associate or peer who understands the value of their particular contribution to the University. Self-nomination is not allowed.

2. The list of nominations will be available by December 3, 2007. The URC will send each nominee a request for data to support the nomination. An individual can decline the nomination. If an individual elects to submit his/her name, their application materials must be returned by January 25, 2008.

3. Following peer review, the URC will recommend to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development one individual in each category of Basic Research, Applied Research, Creative Activity, and Academic Partnerships, and one individual in the category of Graduate Research.

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INNOVATION AWARDS
APPLICATION MATERIALS

Application materials submitted must include the following:

1. A narrative by the nominee stating the usefulness or significance of their research/creative/partnership activity – to be no more than 3 single-spaced legible pages.
2. A curriculum vitae listing all activities relevant to the category exclusive of teaching and service.
3. No more than 5 examples of the most recent/significant publications/patents, etc.
4. Three letters of recommendation (external/internal) from individuals familiar with nominee's work.
5. If you have questions about the submission process, please contact Jennifer Brannock (601.266.4347) or your URC college representative, who will assist you in the process.

In addition, it is suggested that the applicant address the following issues if relevant:

1. Amount and funding source of grants
2. How the research has been applied and by whom
3. Dissemination of products of creativity/how used.
   1. Response of target audience(s) to products of creativity. For example: critiques/awards/other.
4. Benefit of partnership(s)
5. Description of participants
6. Description of activities, experiences, products, or other
7. Dissemination of findings
   1. Publications in refereed journals related to research areas identified.
      1. Was nominee the sole author, first author, second or later author?
   2. Publications in other journals related to areas identified.
   1. Was nominee the sole author, first author, second or later author?
   3. Books related to identified areas.
      1. Was nominee the sole author, first author, second or last author?
   4. Presentations
      1. Was the nominee the sole presenter, first presenter, or member of a panel of presenters?

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