College of Engineering Annual Awards

The College of Engineering’s Annual Awards recognize individual staff, career-track, tenured and tenure-track faculty; and designated colleagues. These awardees demonstrate outstanding achievements and excellence in support of research, teaching and service missions.

Nominees are evaluated on actions that surpass meritorious performance in their jobs. Please ensure that letters of support address the criteria and give at least one concrete example for each dimension. For all awards, a minimum of one letter of nomination is required, with a maximum of two. Four years immediately following their awards, recipients are ineligible for identical recognition.

Award Parameters

At the discretion of the dean or his designee, all College awards vary in number and award amount depending on funds available. Cash awards are subject to all applicable taxes. Unless otherwise noted, an individual can only receive one College award per fiscal year. In the case of a tie for a single award, the cash prize, if any, will be split between the awardees. Donors sponsoring awards/endowments are given the option of presenting the awards at the College ceremony.


Staff Awards

Leadership Award
Recognizes leadership among staff members in support of their primary units or teams, or the college overall. Eligibility applies to all individuals who led a team of one or more, or who were responsible for the success of a project, program, department or college support unit. Nominations are accepted from colleagues, supervisors and team members. One award is given annually.

Innovation Award
Recognizes innovation and problem solving among staff members in their primary units or teams, or the college overall. All staff members are eligible. Nominations are accepted from colleagues, supervisors and team members. One award is given annually. 

Outstanding Advisor/Mentor Award
Recognizes excellence and caring in support of students through advising and mentorship. Eligible staff members include those who hold the title of advisor and those who perform advising or mentoring duties as part of their official University roles. Nominations are accepted from colleagues and students. One award is given annually. 

William P. Cosart Award
Created in 2001, this award recognizes staff members for exemplary service to the College of Engineering. Eligibility applies to all career staff members who are beyond their probationary period. Can be awarded to an individual or a team. Nominations are accepted from colleagues, supervisors and team members. One award is given annually.

University Staff Awards
Staff are also encouraged to nominate colleagues for the University of Arizona staff awards. University-level awardees are recognized at the College of Engineering luncheon. Please visit http://recognition.arizona.edu/awards-criteria for information about the nomination process for these University awards:

  • University of Arizona Award for Excellence
  • Billy Joe Varney Award for Excellence
  • Team Award for Excellence
  • Center/Department/Unit Award


Faculty Awards

In addition to one to two letters of nomination, all nominations require a CV of no more than five pages supporting the criteria.

Outstanding Supporter of Diversity and Inclusion Award

Doctoral Dissertation Advisor/Mentor Awards
Recognizes excellence in advising PhD students, as exemplified by student scholarly success via papers, conference presentations, dissertations, etc. For eligibility, the nominee shall have mentored a minimum of two PhD students at some point during the previous calendar year. One award is given annually. 
  
Teacher of the Year – Two Awards, One T/TT and One Career-Track
Recognizes excellence in undergraduate or graduate education. At least one of the nomination letters should be supplied by a former student or group of students, but not by students currently enrolled in the nominee’s course.    

Researcher of the Year
Recognizes excellence in research and scholarship, as evidenced by large and/or numerous grants, scholarly impact (numbers of papers and citations), collaborative efforts and professional society recognitions. T/TT or career-track faculty are eligible. One award is given annually. 
 
Peterson Family Outstanding Early Career Faculty Award
Recognizes excellence in teaching, research and service to a tenure-track faculty member or early career-track faculty member (first five years of career or prior to promotion package submission). One award is given annually.

 

University Faculty Awards

Faculty are also encouraged to nominate colleagues for the University of Arizona faculty awards. Recipients of University-level faculty awards are recognized at the College of Engineering luncheon. See https://www.arizona.edu/faculty-awards-honors for information about criteria and nomination processes.

  • Distinguished Outreach Faculty
  • Distinguished Professors
  • Graduate Teaching and Mentoring Award
  • Henry and Phyllis Koffler Prizes
  • Provost’s General Education Teaching Award
  • Regents Professors

 

Student Awards

Wildcat Engineering Student Society Recognition for Excellence
This award goes to one Engineering student group each year. College-level (SWE, SHPE, NSBE, TBP, etc.), discipline-specific (ASME, IEEE, etc.), or other clubs (SAE, etc.) are eligible. Nominations are made by Academic Affairs, home department/home unit, faculty advisor, or any college faculty or staff member. 

Collegewide Award

Outstanding Supporter of Diversity and Inclusion in Engineering
This award is given to a student, staff or faculty member for efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the College of Engineering and the engineering profession. Nominations are made by students, staff or faculty members.