Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student and Academic Program Support

• Award Criteria
• Eligibility
• Nomination
• Deadline
• Award Winners
• Contact Us

The Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Student and Academic Program Support recognizes graduate faculty currently in the Director of Graduate Studies role, who provide outstanding support for graduate programs and their students.

Award Criteria

• Program Support
  • Engaging in critical and thoughtful discussions regarding program improvement, resource allocation, and student advising and mentoring
  • Cultivating and contributing to a climate of inclusion and support for faculty, students, and staff from diverse backgrounds with varied experiences
• Student Development
  • Providing students with constructive feedback and thoughtful guidance in dealing with academic challenges, defining professional goals, and accessing relevant resources
  • Helping students develop a sense of voice, agency, and community within their academic program and ultimately their disciplinary field
• Faculty Engagement
  • Working with program faculty and staff to ensure clear and consistent communication, interpretation, and application of policies and procedures
  • Promoting faculty consideration and discussion of student concerns and ideas as related to program expectations and needs

Eligibility

Graduate students may nominate current Directors of Graduate Studies (DGS) for this award.

Nomination

• A complete nomination must include a statement totaling no more than 1,000 words which addresses:
  • How the nominee has demonstrated excellence in the role of Director of Graduate Studies
  • Specific examples of how the nominee meets the award criteria
  • Information about any other relevant accomplishments, experiences, etc. which exhibit why the nominee should receive this award.
• Additional letters of support are not required, but nominators will be able to provide additional letters for the nominee if they would like to do so. Nominees' department chairs will be notified upon receipt of nomination for this award.

Nominations are currently closed

Deadline

Nominations are due by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

Award Winners

This award will be presented during the Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration during Graduate and Professional Student Appreciation Week in the first week of April.

• 2023
  • Jeff Sekelsky, genetics and molecular biology
• 2022
  • Michael Palm, communication
• 2021
  • Sara Smith, geography
• 2020
  • Lori Evarts, public health leadership program
• 2019
  • Erica Johnson, global studies

Contact Us

Laura Thorp, Director of Student Affairs
lethorp@unc.edu