Awards
The SCSE Dean's Office has compiled a Google doc with awards information that provides greater detail on the below mentioned honors as well as information about U of M system level awards.
UMD Awards
Information about awards offered by the UMD Academic Affairs office.
Swenson College Faculty Awards
Any SCSE faculty member (or group) may nominate a colleague for the awards below, except for the UMD SCSE Young Teacher Award (sponsored by Dr. James P. Riehl) which must be submitted by the Department Head, though others are encouraged to co-sign. Self-nominations are not permitted for any award.
- Deadline: March 1
- Submission: Email a 2-page nomination letter to Associate Dean Erin Sheets ([email protected]).
- Important: No CV or other documentation will be accepted. Therefore, your letter must explicitly detail the evidence (e.g., funding amounts, citation impact, specific student outcomes) needed for scoring.
Please review the Scoring Guide & Rubrics to ensure your letter addresses the correct criteria.
Selection Process Nominations will be reviewed by an awards committee who will make recommendations to the Dean for final selection.
Sabra S. and Dennis L. Anderson Scholar/Teacher Award
This annual award honors a faculty member of scholarly distinction and teaching excellence who has an established record of directly mentoring undergraduate students in meaningful research projects.
- Undergraduate Mentorship: Sustained history of mentoring (e.g., UROP) with student co-authors or presenters.
- Scholarly Distinction: A strong research record that directly informs teaching.
- Teaching Excellence: Outstanding classroom teaching and engagement.
Eligibility: SCSE faculty with 10+ years teaching undergraduates at UMD. Previous winners are not eligible; please check the Archive of Past Recipients.
Award: A certificate and a monetary award of at least $500 from the interest on this endowment. The monetary award will be transferred to the faculty member's award account. One award per year.
A plaque recognizing all winners of this award will be placed in a prominent public place on campus. Drs. Sabra and Dennis Anderson are pleased to provide an appropriate plaque on which to record the names of the Scholar/Teacher Award recipients.
SCSE Excellence in Research Award
This annual award recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exceptional research productivity or impact. Reflecting the diversity of scholarship across SCSE, excellence is evaluated based on the norms and funding structures of the nominee’s discipline.
- Research Impact: Evidence of field-changing work, high-impact publications, or work that has shifted the direction of the discipline.
- External Funding: Significant funding secured relative to the discipline's norms.
- Disciplinary Stature: Recognized leadership (keynotes, editorial boards, national awards).
Eligibility: Open to tenure-line faculty in SCSE. Previous winners are not eligible; please check the Archive of Past Recipients.
Award: This award provides financial support of $2,000, which will be transferred to the faculty member's award account. One award per year.
SCSE Young Teacher Award (sponsored by Dr. James P. Riehl)
This award recognizes outstanding teaching by early-career faculty who have quickly demonstrated mastery of content and a dedication to student success.
Nomination Rule: Must be nominated by the Department Head (though others are encouraged to co-sign).
- Instructional Quality: Mastery of content, positive evaluations, and clear evidence of student learning success.
- Innovation: Creative use of technology, significant course redesign, or success in handling "difficult" courses (e.g., large lectures, complex logistics).
- Student Support: Extraordinary availability and proactive mentoring efforts.
Eligibility: Open to probationary tenure-track faculty in SCSE. Previous winners are not eligible; please check the Archive of Past Recipients.
Award: This award will provide financial support of $1,500, which will be transferred to the faculty member's award account. Two awards per year.
Swenson College of Science and Engineering Teaching Award
This annual award, which is funded by donations from alumni and friends of SCSE, honors a faculty member who has made special contributions to teaching. It recognizes the "above and beyond" effort required for outstanding classroom instruction, creative use of technology, success in handling complex courses, or dedication to helping students outside of class.
- Instructional Quality: Mastery of content, positive evaluations, and clear evidence of student learning success.
- Innovation: Creative use of technology, significant course redesign, or success in handling "difficult" courses (e.g., large lectures, complex logistics).
- Student Support: Extraordinary availability and proactive mentoring efforts.
Eligibility: Open to term faculty with at least 67% time appointment in SCSE. Previous winners are not eligible; please check the Archive of Past Recipients.
Award: This award will provide financial support of $500, which will be transferred to the faculty member's award account. One award per year.
UMD Jean G. Blehart Award for Distinguished Teaching (now accepting nominations)
This UMD award, which rotates among the four UMD colleges, recognizes contributions to the teaching mission of extraordinary quality. Unlike standard teaching awards, the Blehart Award honors faculty whose educational leadership and innovation have created an impact that extends well beyond their own classroom.
- Teaching & Advising: Transformational instruction and genuine interest in students that continues after graduation.
- Academic Program Development: Systemic innovation (materials, devices, techniques) that has been accepted and adopted by colleagues.
- Educational Leadership: Institutional impact that improves the total UMD student experience.
Eligibility: Faculty with Instructor rank or higher and 5+ years of continuous service. Previous recipients of the Jean G. Blehart Distinguished Teaching Award will be eligible for renomination in the seventh academic year following acceptance of the award; please check the Archive of Past Recipients.
Award: This award will provide financial support of $1,000 to be used for resources related to teaching (monies transferred to the faculty member's award account). One award. This award rotates annually among the four UMD Colleges.