2010
Distinguished Academics Awards
Nomination Process

Terms of Reference

Purpose

The purpose of the CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards is to recognize academic staff members of British Columbia public universities who have made outstanding contributions to the community beyond the academy through their academic work.

The Awards

There are three awards:

1. Early In Career Award - Sponsored by Scotiabank     NEW!

   The Early in Career Award recognizes outstanding contributions made by scholars at relatively early stages in their careers. It is recognized that career patterns differ and so we encourage nominators to explain how this award is appropriate for their nominee. As a guide only, early in career is often defined as being "no more than five years from completion of a doctoral degree or equivalent" or "within three years of the initial appointment as an Assistant Professor". The adjudication committee will determine the appropriateness of nominations.

2. Academic of the Year Award

   For a specific and recent outstanding contribution to the community beyond the academy through research or other scholarly activity by an individual or group at any stage of their career. A recent contribution would typically be within the past three years.

3. Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award

   Named in memory of Dr. Paz Buttedahl - academic, community builder and faculty association leader - this award is for sustained outstanding contributions to the community beyond the academy through research or other scholarly activities by an individual or a group over the major portion of their career.

Eligible Persons

To be considered for an award, nominees must be current members of a CUFA BC member faculty association (Royal Roads, SFU, UBC, UNBC, and UVic). For a group nomination, a majority of group members, including the primary researcher or leader, if there is one, must be current members of a CUFA BC member faculty association.

Eligible Contributions

All forms of research and scholarly activity that contribute to the community beyond the academy are eligible for consideration. Examples of eligible contributions include:

• developing an innovative idea, process or framework;
• extending an idea, process or framework through novel applications;
• promoting a field of knowledge to the public;
• contributing to the understanding of public policy;
• developing innovative systems to access research materials, etc.

In making its decision, the selection committee may also take into account other aspects of the nominee's academic life and other contributions to the community beyond the academy.

Nominations

Nominations for each of the awards must include the following information:

1. a completed Distinguished Academics Award nomination form available from the CUFA BC office or website;
   
   
2. a letter of nomination specifically describing how the nominee(s) research or other scholarly activity has contributed to the community beyond the academy.
   
   In the case of the Early in Career Award, the letter must address how the nominee(s) fit in to the early in career category.
   
   In the case of the Academic of the Year Award, the letter must refer to a specific and recent contribution.
   
   In the case of the Paz Buttedahl Career Achievement Award, the letter must refer to contributions over the course of the career;
   
   
3. an abbreviated curriculum vitae of the nominee(s). CVs may be no more than 20 pages (single-sided) or 10 pages (double-sided); and
   
   
4. two letters of reference, one of which must be from a person outside the university community who can comment on the contribution of the individual's or group's academic work to the community beyond the academy. These letters must specifically describe how the nominee(s) research or other scholarly activity has contributed to the community beyond the academy.
   
   

Dates and Deadlines

Nominations must be received by February 5, 2010. Nominations made for the 2009 awards may be resubmitted. Contact the CUFA BC office for further details.

Obligations of the Recipient

An award recipient must be willing and able to attend the awards dinner and to make a brief presentation of their work on April 7, 2010 in Vancouver. Travel expenses for award recipients will be paid by CUFA BC.

Submit nominations by February 5, 2010 to:

CUFA BC Distinguished Academics Awards
315 - 207 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7
Phone 604.646.4677 Fax 604.646.4676
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Web www.cufa.bc.ca