The Faculty Excellence in Research & Creative Activity Mentorship award honors the considerable dedication of UM faculty who consistently go above and beyond to serve as effective mentors to students involved in research or creative activities. The award celebrates faculty who nurture students’ intellectual, personal, and professional growth; and is intended to convey UM’s high regard for the outstanding contributions of these faculty to the campus community.

Nominations for this year need to be received no later than 5:00 PM on March 22, 2024. 

Award Details

Each year, UM will give two awards: one recognizing mentorship of undergraduate students and one recognizing mentorship of graduate students.  

Winners of the award will receive a cash prize of $500 and a letter of recognition from the UM Provost (funding for the award is provided by the Office of Research and Creative Scholarship). Awardees will be recognized at a ceremony during the Week of Excellence.  

To be eligible for this award, nominees must meet the following eligibility requirements:  

• Nominee is a current faculty member at the University of Montana (all campuses). 
• Undergraduate Mentor Award: Nominee must have provided significant, sustained mentorship to undergraduate students in research and/or creative related endeavors at UM over at least five years. 
• Graduate Mentor Award: Nominee must have successfully mentored graduate students at the doctoral and/or master’s level at UM over at least five years. 

Previous winners are not eligible for five years from the date of last award.  

Nomination Process

Faculty may be nominated by (1) current student mentees, (2) other faculty, (3) staff, or (4) program coordinators, department chairs, associate deans, and/or college deans via a short nomination form. Individuals may not self-nominate.  

Nominees will be notified and asked to provide additional information to the awards committee. This information will include the following:  

1. A curriculum vitae highlighting undergraduate or graduate research mentoring activities, including a list of presentation and publications that involved students (the group of students highlighted will depend on the award the faculty member was nominated for). Clearly designate the student researchers involved and any student honors, awards, or scholarships associated with the experience.  
2. A list of mentees, including: student name, dates or timeframes, project title, and current position (if known).  
3. Names and contact information for two current or recent student mentees.  
4. Name and contact information for their academic administrator (program coordinator, department chair, academic dean). 

The awards committee (supported by the Office of Undergraduate Research) will reach out to collect letters of support from: 

1. The academic administrator with an emphasis on the nominee’s contributions to the department, college, or field via mentoring. 
2. Two current or recent student mentees.   

Selection Process

Nomination packages will be reviewed by the Research Mentorship Award Committee, as well as the Dean of the Graduate School and the Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research. Awardees will be asked to serve on the committee in the year following their recognition.  

Given the great diversity in projects, students, and disciplines on campus, there won’t be a single rubric used to assess all nominees. In general, the Awards Committee will look for nominees that demonstrate:  

• Consistent, sustained involvement in mentoring  
• Successful and documented results of mentorship (e.g., students’ achievements, placement in future programs or careers, successful and timely degree completion) 
• Contributions to expanding access to research opportunities 
• Supporting the professional development of students through actively creating networking opportunities, education in professional norms, and developing needed skills 

• Providing meaningful guidance and support, including through the cultivation of a respectful and healthy work environment