Introduction

The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to sponsor an award designed to honor the practice of mentoring undergraduate research and scholarship. The award is intended to recognize demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate researchers, to encourage mentoring relationships with undergraduate students, and to convey the campus' high regard for such contributions made by the faculty of the academic and research community. This award is granted to faculty members that mentor undergraduates outside of the classroom, and their commitment to undergraduate research extends above and beyond the classroom experience.

As an urban research university, the University of Houston embraces its mission of providing a broad range of educational programs and services at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. One emerging area of importance entails increasing the participation of undergraduate students in the research component of the university's mission. The Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research encourages faculty to embrace the university's mission and enhance research opportunities on campus for undergraduate students.

Each year one UH faculty member will receive a one-time cash award of $5,000. Because only one award is issued each year, nominations should be limited to those individuals whose efforts in undergraduate mentorship are exceptional.

Eligibility criteria

The Faculty Award for Mentoring Undergraduate Research is a career award that is open to faculty members from all departments who are making a significant impact in their field by supporting and mentoring undergraduate students in research and scholarship endeavors. Full professors, associate professors and assistant professors are eligible for the award who have made a lasting commitment to undergraduate research within their respective departments, and have served at the university for at least five years.

Selection criteria

Nominations for this award should present evidence that the nominee has made a significant contribution to advancing undergraduate research and scholarship on the UH campus. The advisory board of the Office of Undergraduate Research reviews the nominations. The strongest nominations will demonstrate a commitment to undergraduate research through specific examples such as peer-reviewed publications involving undergraduates; student presentations, showings, or performances; and evidence for the continuing success of mentored students in the research endeavor (where the students are now).

Nomination forms are available on the Office of Undergraduate Research's website. All nomination materials and letters of support must be received at the Office of Undergraduate Research by 5p.m. on Monday, February 9th, 2009. The award announcement will be made by March 1, 2009.

Nomination materials

Nomination package. The original nomination package and five additional copies should be printed single-sided, on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper, using 12-point font size, and assembled in the following order:

1. Nomination form. Download nomination form online. Include completed form with application materials.
2. Curriculum vita of the nominee, no more than four pages in length.
   2a. Listing of mentored undergraduates – name, project, publications, and current position of student. Download mentoring chart online. Include completed chart with application materials. 2b. In a separate document, list all publications and presentations that involved undergraduates, designating the undergraduate researchers involved in each project. Include with application materials.
3. Statement of mentoring philosophy from nominee in regards to undergraduate research (one page in length).
4. Four letters of support include:
   • Chair of department's endorsement - letter (600-800 words) from the chair of the department describing the nominee's impact on his/her field or department with emphasis on evidence of nominee's contribution to undergraduate research and mentoring in field.
   • One (and only one) letter of recommendation from faculty member within nominee's department
   • Two (and only two) letters of recommendation from students that have worked with nominee
   • Only four letters of recommendation will be accepted for the nomination.
5. Appendix: Please include any other materials that may be of use to the selection committee, but include no more than two extra documents.
6. When submitting documents, please paper clip or staple packets. Do not submit applications in a binder or notebook.

Submit all nomination materials to:

The application deadline is Monday, February 9th at 5 pm. If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact Karen Weber at (713) 743-3367 or at kweber@uh.edu or Dr. Stuart Long at (713) 743-4445 or long@uh.edu.

Award Recipients

2008 – Margot Gayle Backus
            Department of English

2007 – Kenneth L. Brown
            Department of Anthropology

2006 – T. Randall Lee
            Department of Chemistry