Dean's Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship

College of Communication and Fine Arts

This award is intended to recognize a teacher-scholar operating beyond the level routinely expected of college faculty and of such excellence that credit accrues to the department, college and university, as well as to the faculty member. It is made annually by the Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts on the recommendation of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Committee and is based on information supplied by the nominees. The annual deadline for nominations is announced in the spring.

1. Definition
   Vital to the mission of the College of Communication and Fine Arts are scholarship and creative activity that addresses the concerns and opportunities of our local, regional and national communities. Such engaged scholarship (1) involves projects that engage faculty members and students in a collaborative and sustained manner with community groups; (2) connects university outreach endeavors with community organizational goals; (3) furthers mutual productive relationships between the university and the community; (4) entails shared authority in the research and creative process from defining the problem to developing the final product; and (5) results in excellence in engaged scholarship and creative activity documented through publications, reviews, photographs, videos, films, letters from community partners, or in some other manner appropriate to the activity.
2. Eligibility
   College of Communication and Fine Arts faculty who have been employed full- time at least three years are eligible for this award. A substantial portion of the creative activity to be awarded must have been completed while employed in the college. Faculty who have won the award are eligible to be nominated again after a five-year lapse of time. There are no limits on how many times past winners may be nominated, but past winners should only submit projects and materials produced since receiving the award previously.
3. Nomination
   Faculty may nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague at The University of Memphis. If not be selected in the first year of application, the nomination will carry over for the next two years. Nominees will be notified that they may submit an updated CV and materials in subsequent years.
4. Documentation
   All nominees should provide the following:
   
   • Nomination cover sheet with the department chair's signature
   • A current CV
   • One-page narrative from the nominator describing the nominee's engagement with the community, highlighting its intent and significance
   • Up to three representative examples of community engagement to include publications, reviews, photographs, videos, films or letters from community partners (please provide links to works if appropriate)
5. The Award
   The award includes a $500 travel stipend, and an award plaque.