Board Recognizes Faculty with Research, Scholarly Excellence, Teaching Awards

The Board of Regents for Higher Education — which governs the 17 Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (ConnSCU) — voted on Thursday, May 16, to recognize state university and community college faculty members with annual research, scholarly excellence and teaching awards beginning in the spring of 2014. The Board of Regents Research Awards and the Board of Regents Teaching Awards are fashioned after former Connecticut State University System (CSUS) awards available to faculty members at the state universities. The board action last week recognizes the continued and important desire to recognize the excellent faculty across the state universities, but also extends that recognition to the community college faculty. In addition, the board directed the incoming Board of Regents president to develop a proposal to recognize adjunct faculty systemwide.

In April 2013, an ad hoc committee of senior campus administrators and faculty members identified by the Faculty Advisory Committee reviewed the existing CSUS awards and recommended this action.

“It is always nice to receive recognition for a job well done,” said Lewis J. Robinson, Chairman of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. “These awards will allow us to identify those faculty members across our state universities and community colleges who routinely go above and beyond to ensure our students are receiving the highest caliber of instruction and an experience that will prepare them to become members of an educated citizenry and a global 21st century workforce.”

"It is critical that we acknowledge and recognize the contributions of our faculty on an annual basis," noted Merle Harris, chair of the Board of Regents Academic and Student Affairs Committee. "Outstanding teaching and scholarship create positive learning environments for our students. I look forward to presenting these awards to talented faculty recommended through a very competitive peer-review process."

The Board of Regents Research Awards

Five awards will be granted annually among the four state universities to faculty at the assistant or associate professor rank. There will be a $1,000 award to a faculty member from each university, and a single $1,000 award to the individual who best exemplifies high quality research and creative achievement.

The Board of Regents Teaching Awards

Eighteen awards will be granted annually, with one $1,000 award given to a faculty member from each of the four state universities and 12 community colleges. A single $1,000 award will also be given to the individual who best exemplifies high quality teaching among the state universities; and a single $1,000 award will be given to the individual who best exemplifies high quality teaching among the community colleges.

The Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards

The Board of Regents Scholarly Excellence Awards was established to recognize community college faculty who conduct work befitting the community college mission. Thirteen awards will be granted annually among the community colleges. One award of $1,000 will be given to a faculty member from each of the community colleges; and a single award of $1,000 will be given to the individual who best exemplifies high-quality scholarly excellence.

Members of the ad hoc committee included: Cathryn Addy, President, Tunxis Community College (co-chair); James Schmotter, President, Western Connecticut State University; Mark Kosinski, Academic Dean, Gateway Community College; Carl Lovitt, Provost, Central Connecticut State University; Terry Cassidy, Associate Professor of English, Tunxis Community College; Elizabeth Cowles, Professor of Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University; Bonnie Edelen, Associate Professor of Nursing, Capital Community College; and Kathy Martin-Troy, Professor of Biomolecular Sciences, Central Connecticut State University.