For the record

Alliant Energy/Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards
The Professional Development and Recognition Committee of the Academic Staff Assembly requests nominations for the Alliant Energy/Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Awards. Up to four $3,500 awards will be provided to faculty or teaching academic staff at UW System schools within the service area of the Alliant Energy company. The awards recognize teaching of outstanding quality that leads to substantial intellectual growth in students. The PDRC will nominate two candidates for the Underkofler award. Nominations will be forwarded to the System selection committee, where the final selections will be made from the System applications. Submit nominations (eight complete sets) by Monday, March 3, the Office of the Secretary of the Academic Staff, 270 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706.

Eligible individuals must be current members of the teaching academic staff of UW–Madison. The System Selection Committee will especially value evidence that the candidate:

1. Displays an uncommon commitment to teaching (e.g. works to maintain a strong and current knowledge of the field; seeks out and develops innovative approaches to teaching; including effective uses of technology to enhance teaching; shares insights on teaching through presentations and publications; serves as mentor or special advisor to students; sponsors student-initiated projects).

2. Employs effective teaching strategies (e.g., communicates high expectations; establishes good intellectual rapport with students; engages students in and out of the classroom in an active examination of the topic; conveys excitement about the material; fosters conceptual and critical thinking; models and encourages an integrated view of knowledge; respects and responds to the diversity among students).

3. Has enabled particularly notable achievements by former students.

Required documentation includes (page limits must be respected):

1. A one- or two-page statement by the nominee on his or her teaching and learning philosophy, strategies, objectives, and on how these have evolved.

2. A condensed curriculum vitae of the nominee.

3. Two or three letters of support from current or past students. At least one letter should be from a student with recent or current contact with the candidate.

4. Two or three letters of support from colleagues qualified to comment on the candidate’s teaching. One of these should be from the department chair.

5. A well-organized small set of items (no more than 10 pages) that document the excellence of the candidate’s teaching (e.g. course syllabuses, handouts, descriptions of evaluation methods, examinations, grants received for teaching/course development, videotapes, etc.). These should be accompanied by a brief explanation of why they were included, i.e., how they document the excellence of the nominee’s teaching.

6. Evidence of the success of the candidate’s teaching (no more than three pages), which may include a summary of student evaluations for each course taught during the past two years, a list of awards for teaching, invitations to speak at teaching improvement meetings and other relevant material.

German and European Studies Opportunities Available
The Center for German and European Studies announces eight available graduate fellowships for 2003-04. Applications are due Friday, Feb. 14. The Center for German and European Studies aims to train a new generation of German and European experts in the United States by supporting multi-institutional research collaboratives and developing a series of interdisciplinary seminars focusing on Germany and Europe. The center’s fellowship program provides support for students pursuing advanced graduate degrees with a research and/or coursework focus on German and/or European studies.

The Center for German and European Studies is calling for preliminary proposals for research collaboratives for 2003-05. They are due Friday, Feb. 14. Each year, two joint research collaboratives are selected to receive support. Each is expected to feature interdisciplinary groups of scholars and to examine the philosophical, social, historical, political, economic, legal and cultural issues that make Europe a locus of contested ideas. By bringing together scholars and graduate students from different fields in cross-disciplinary groupings, we hope to shed light on the emerging role of Germany in the New Europe and on the emerging role of Europe in the world. For information about the Center, CGES research collaboratives, and fellowship application procedures: http://daadcenter.wisc.edu.

Distinguished Teaching, Van Hise Outreach Teaching Awards
We invite individual faculty members, departments and student organizations to submit nominations of faculty members whose teaching is of such quality that it merits recognition and award. The committee encourages the nomination of any exceptional distinguished teacher, regardless of specialty or rank. Eight outstanding teachers received awards in spring 2002.

Two categories of teaching awards are available: the Distinguished Teaching Awards and the Van Hise Outreach Teaching Award. Only persons involved in outreach teaching are eligible for the Van Hise Outreach Teaching Award. All other nominees are eligible for the Distinguished Teaching Awards.

The Teaching Awards Committee reviews all of the Distinguished Teaching Awards nominations to identify UW–Madison nominees for UW System teaching awards. UW–Madison faculty who have been selected for campus teaching awards may be nominated specifically for System awards. Nominations for UW System awards should be submitted to 130 Bascom Hall using the same deadline as UW–Madison nominations (Tuesday, Jan. 21). This year the Teaching Award Committee will nominate one faculty member for the Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award and one faculty member for the Regents Teaching Excellence Award. It is anticipated the procedures will remain the same; note that UW System does not distribute nomination materials until February. The Teaching Awards Committee will notify the nominating department(s) when a candidate is selected as a nominee for a UW-System award and additional information is needed to satisfy System requirements.

Send nominations to the Committee on Distinguished Teaching Awards, Office of the Secretary of the Faculty, 130 Bascom Hall by Tuesday, Jan. 21. For information, contact committee chair Steve Ackerman, 263-3647; or Paula Gray, Office of the Secretary of the Faculty, 262-3958.

Radfest Proposals Sought
The Havens Center is now accepting proposals for workshops and panels for RadFest 2003, May 30-June 1. RadFest is an annual weekend conference for progressive activists and academics organized by UW–Madison’s A.E. Havens Center for the Study of Social Structure and Social Change. The conference is held at the George Williams Lake Geneva Campus of Aurora University 240 acres of rolling, wooded hillside on the shores of Lake Geneva, approximately 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee, 80 miles northwest of Chicago and 70 miles southeast of Madison. Radfest provides an opportunity for progressive activists and academics to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, strengthen networks, and devise strategies for progressive social, economic and political change. Last year, approximately 300 people from throughout the upper Midwest and beyond attended the conference, which included nearly 30 workshops and panels addressing a wide array of social, political and economic topics. For a description of last year’s program, see http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/havenscenter.

To propose a workshop or panel for RadFest 2003, submit a title and short description, names and institutional affiliations of participants, as well as your name, institutional affiliation and contact information. The subject matter of the workshop or panel should be timely, relevant and likely to interest progressive activists and academics. Send proposals or ideas to Patrick Barrett at havensce@ssc.wisc.edu or Havens Center, 8117 Social Science.

Undergraduate Projects Sought for Annual Symposium
Faculty and staff are asked to identify undergraduates whose exemplary work could be showcased at the Fifth Annual Undergraduate Symposium on Tuesday, April 22. The symposium celebrates undergraduate students’ achievements, creativity and service learning across all schools and colleges at UW–Madison. The submission deadline is Tuesday, March 4.

Undergraduate students who are enrolled during the 2002-2003 academic year are invited to apply. December 2002 graduates are also eligible.

Applications for oral presentations, posters, art exhibits and individual or ensemble performances representing the humanities, biological sciences, physical sciences and social sciences are welcome. For information on the symposium and how to enter, visit the Morgridge Center for Public Service Web site: http://www.morgridge.wisc.edu/symposium, or contact Kerstin Schaars, kschaars@wisc.edu, 262-8446.

UW-Madison Academic Staff Excellence Awards
The Professional Development and Recognition Committee invites the nomination of eligible academic staff for the Academic Staff Excellence Awards. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 24. Eligibility and criteria for all awards are as follows:

1. Nominees must have a fixed-term, limited and/or rolling horizon or indefinite appointments, be employed 50 percent time or more, and have been members of the academic staff for at least 12 months.

2. Individuals may be nominated for only one of the annual Academic Staff Excellence Awards. Any or all of the following criteria will be considered in the review of nominations:

A. Excellence of Performance: performance that consistently and substantially exceeds in quality that is expected in the position; performance that sets superior standards of excellence and efficiency in relation to the mission of the departmental unit and the university.

B. Personal Interaction: performance that consistently and substantially demonstrates ability and willingness to work positively and effectively with others; performance that demonstrates ability and willingness to manage changes in work priorities, procedures and organization.

C. Initiative and Creativity: performance that consistently and substantially demonstrates an innovative approach to the job, thereby improving productivity and the quality of work assigned; performance that demonstrates efforts to expand work responsibilities.

D. Outstanding Achievement: performance that consistently and substantially results in important and significant contributions to the departmental unit and furthers the mission of the university; performance that results in becoming a distinguished member of his/her profession campuswide, systemwide, statewide, nationally or internationally.

The Awards
Eight prestigious awards (in six categories) recognizing excellence by members of the UW–Madison academic staff are presented annually:

Chancellor’s Hilldale Award for Excellence in Teaching (one award)

The primary mission of UW–Madison, and one of its greatest strengths, is the instruction that it provides to students. Academic staff members teach classes and support the instruction received by thousands of students each semester. Those nominated for this award shall provide and support instruction.

Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Research (two awards)

UW–Madison is one of the nation’s largest public research universities. Academic staff members serving as principal investigators or as project research personnel perform critical research functions and make possible the advancement of knowledge and the service to humankind that results. Those nominated for these awards shall conduct or support the university’s research mission in roles such as, but not limited to, scientists, researchers or information specialists.

Candidates will be considered as follows:

• Individuals functioning as an independent investigator (one award).
• Individuals providing critical mission support (one award).

  Robert Heideman Award for Excellence in Public Service (one award)

Academic staff play a key role in the state, national and international public service mission of the university. Following the “Wisconsin Idea,” UW–Madison enhances the economic vitality of the state, and the cultural and social life of residents by sharing knowledge, talents and skills. Other academic staff provide direct services to students or to the many people who use university facilities each year. Those nominated for this award shall have responsibility for the direct provision of services that reflect the public service mission of the university.

Wisconsin Alumni Association Awards for Excellence in Leadership (two awards)

Academic staff make it possible for the university to serve the more than 50,000 people who work and study on the UW–Madison campus. The leadership awards will recognize academic staff from different arenas of responsibility. Academic staff may manage facilities, direct business services, or ensure the smooth functioning of classrooms, laboratories, libraries and student service offices. Those nominated for this award shall have demonstrated exceptional organizational leadership. The leadership awards will recognize nominees from different arenas of responsibility as follows:

• Academic staff who serve colleges, schools or the larger university community (one award).
• Academic staff who serve within an individual unit (one award).

Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Service to the University (one award)

Many academic staff members go above and beyond the scope of their appointment and demonstrate outstanding sustained service and dedication to their individual unit and the greater university community. It is this type of dedication that has made UW–Madison an internationally recognized university as well as a vibrant and productive community for staff and students. With this capstone award, the chancellor recognizes an academic staff member who has demonstrated outstanding, long-term personal commitment to the university. Those nominated for this award shall be members of the academic staff, at any level of responsibility.

Ann Wallace Career Achievement Award (one award)

Each year, many distinguished academic staff members on the Madison campus retire after making significant contributions to the campus and to the unit(s) in which they were employed. This award is given to recognize a retiring academic staff member with outstanding career achievements that include significant service and leadership at the campus level on behalf of the academic staff. Those nominated for this award shall be members of the academic staff who are retiring in the academic or calendar year in which the award is given and who have been UW–Madison academic staff members for at least 15 years.

Nomination and Review for All Awards
The nomination packet should contain supporting data in the following order:

a. Nomination title page.

b. A letter of nomination. To give the candidate the most favorable consideration, the letter of nomination should address the criteria for the specific award for which the individual is being nominated. Any staff member, faculty member, student or member of the community may initiate the letter.

c. Supporting materials should include letters of support (no more than four) from people such as other staff members, faculty members, students and members of the community. Letters should address the candidate’s qualifications for the specific award, not simply excellence of performance. A diversity of support is often most effective.

d. A r„sum„ or curriculum vita of applicable professional experiences that illustrates the nominee’s performance must be included.

e. Additional supporting materials may be provided at the discretion of the nominator.

f. For teaching awards, provide a succinct summary of teaching evaluations only (no raw data).

All nomination materials are confidential. Additional supporting materials may be requested, and individuals familiar with nominee’s work may be contacted.

Nomination packets will be reviewed by a committee, including previous Academic Staff Excellence Award winners and members of the Academic Staff Professional Development and Recognition Committee. The Academic Staff Excellence Awards will be presented at a ceremony in the spring. The teaching award recipient will receive $5,000. All other recipients will receive $2,500. All will receive a sculpture commemorating the award.

Deadline for Nominations
The deadline is Friday, Jan. 24. Submit five complete copies of the nomination packet for all awards. Complete packets must be submitted to: Colleen McCabe, Office of the Secretary of the Academic Staff, 270 Bascom. The selection committee is on a very tight schedule, so this deadline will be strictly enforced. Packets received after Jan. 24 will be returned. If you have any questions, contact Colleen McCabe, secretary of the academic staff, 263-2985, cmccabe@bascom.wisc.edu.

2003 Academic Staff Regents Award for Excellence
On behalf of the Board of Regents, the UW System Administration’s Office of the Senior Vice President for Administration invites the institutions and the UW System to each submit one nomination for the 2003 Academic Staff Regents Award for Excellence. The nominee should be a noninstructional academic staff member. He or she should provide essential services to the university while demonstrating excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity, and outstanding achievement. Two $5,000 awards will be made to two noninstructional academic staff members in recognition of exceptional service to the university. The funds for this award will be designated to support the recipients’ professional development or for other activities approved by the recipients that enhance a university program or function. The recipients will be honored at the April 2003 Board of Regents meeting.

The nomination deadline is Friday, Jan. 24. A complete set of nomination materials should be submitted to Colleen McCabe, 270 Bascom Hall, 263-2985, cmccabe@bascom.wisc.edu. For more information, contact Kerry Niemcek at 263-2208, kniemcek@uwsa.edu.

A special regent committee will select the recipients. Current UW System noninstructional academic staff members are eligible for the award if they have fixed-term, limited and/or rolling horizon or indefinite appointments; are employed 50 percent time or more; and have been members of the academic staff for a minimum of 12 months. Nomination materials should address the following criteria, as they will be considered by the special regent committee in the review of all nominations. All references to “institution” are intended to include the UW System administration.

A. Excellence of Performance: performance that consistently and substantially exceeds in quality that is expected of the position; performance sets superior standards of excellence and efficiency in relation to the mission of the departmental unit and the university, and results in important and significant contributions to his or her department and institution.

B. Personal Interaction: performance that consistently and substantially demonstrates ability and willingness to work positively and effectively with others; performance that demonstrates ability and willing ness to manage changes in work priorities, procedures and organization.

C. Initiative and Creativity: performance that consistently and substantially demonstrates an innovative approach to the job, thereby improving productivity and the quality of the work assigned; performance that demonstrates efforts to improve personal job performance.

D. Outstanding Achievement: performance that consistently and substantially results in important and significant contributions to the departmental unit and that furthers the mission of the university; performance that results in becoming a distinguished member of his or her profession campuswide, systemwide, statewide, nationally or internationally.

Nomination procedures shall be determined by each institution. Supporting materials should include:

• A letter of nomination addressing the four criteria listed above.
• A one- or two-page statement by the nominee on his or her philosophy of professional contributions and service to the university.
• Up to four letters of support from colleagues qualified to comment on the nominee’s work. Where possible, the four nomination criteria should be addressed.
• A brief resume, not to exceed five pages, that documents the nominee’s performance.

All nomination materials are confidential. However, after the selection has been made, the nomination forms and supporting documents will be returned to the institution to be placed in the individual’s personnel files.

A $5,000 award will be given for professional development for the recipient, or for other activities approved by the recipient that enhance a university program or function. The recipient will receive public recognition at the April UW Board of Regents meeting. News releases will be sent to state and local media, and to the recipient’s hometown, upon the recipient’s consent.