College Awards: Nominate Faculty & Staff

CANR Excellence in Research Award (Faculty)

Process

• Nominations close March 1 (even-numbered years)
• Faculty and staff may submit nominations.
• Nominees are notified electronically and must submit a current CV within 7 days of notification.  
• Members of the selection committee are appointed by the Associate Dean of Research. =
• The selection committee evaluates the nomination package against the Criteria of Excellence and will also consider the nominee's reflective statement. The number of nominations and letters cannot substitute for evidence. 
• The recipient is recognized at the spring college meeting and will receive $1,000 and an award certificate. A brick engraved with the awardee’s name will be placed in the Dunham Garden.       

Eligibility 

• Candidates must be full-time faculty with a primary appointment in the CANR, and only work performed while a member of the University of Delaware will be considered

• Former award recipients are ineligible. Previous award winners may be found on the Honors & Awards webpage.  

• Candidates may not self-nominate, and nominations must be unsolicited

• Nominations are retained for two years and may be updated with additional evidentiary material for the next awards cycle

Required Materials

• Letter of nomination

• Current CV 

Optional Materials

• Nominees may submit a personal statement reflecting on their research, scientific leadership and mentorship, and service to science (as defined in the award criteria).

• Nominations may include a maximum of 3 additional letters of support

Criteria of Excellence 

1. Research Quality. Consider evidence that the nominee: significantly advanced scientific understanding within their discipline; significantly advanced scientific understanding beyond their discipline; reported their scientific advancements through high-impact, peer-reviewed publications; has received awards and honors related to research.

2. Scientific Leadership and Mentorship.  Consider evidence that the nominee: been an active member of national and international scientific societies; involved post-docs in the conduct of cutting-edge research; involved grad students in the conduct of cutting-edge research; involved undergraduate students in the conduct of cutting-edge research; mentored or involved junior faculty in research projects; organized and lead multiple investigator projects involving multiple institutions. 

3. Service to Science. Consider evidence that the nominee: is an active peer-reviewer of scientific literature; served as an editor of a peer-reviewed journal; served as an officer of a national or international scientific society; participated as a panelist on a nationally competitive grant review panel; has been an ad hoc reviewer of grant proposals submitted to a federal agency.

Excellence in Service
Research Staff / Professionals

Process 

• Nominations close March 1 (even-numbered years). 

• Faculty and staff may submit nominations. 

• Members of the selection committee are appointed by the Associate Dean of Research. 

• The recipient is recognized at the spring college meeting and will receive $1,000 and an award certificate. A brick engraved with the awardee’s name will be placed in the Dunham Garden.       

Eligibility 

• Candidates must be active, full-time CANR employees

• Research staff (exempt and non-exempt) are eligible for this award biennially in even-numbered years (i.e. 2026)

• Administrative staff (exempt and non-exempt) are eligible for this award biennially in odd-numbered years (i.e. 2027) 

• Former award recipients are ineligible. Previous award winners may be found on the Honors & Awards webpage.  

• Candidates may not self-nominate, and nominations must be unsolicited

Required Materials

• Letter of nomination, addressing the “Criteria of Excellence”

Optional Materials

• Nominations may include a maximum of 3 additional letters of support

Criteria of Excellence 

Nominations should include specific examples of the nominee’s:

1. superior work ethic;
2. noteworthy performance;
3. outstanding and meritorious service;
   positive impact(s) on the overall goals and
4. objectives of the department and college.

The CANR Excellence in Extension award is presented biennially to an Extension Agent or Specialist who demonstrates high impact of their educational programming, as well as visionary leadership and a knowledge base to help community members with emerging issues.

The Evaluation Criteria below serve as a guideline for developing the nomination and will be weighted equally in the selection process. Send inquiries to jennvolk@udel.edu.

Process 

• Nominations close March 1 (even-numbered years) 
• Nominees, supervisors and peers may submit nominations.
• Nominations should include 1-2 paragraphs explaining how the candidate exemplifies the “criteria of excellence” and their impact on the college and Extension’s overall goals and objectives.
• The Extension leadership team will select the award recipient.
• The recipient is recognized at the spring college meeting and will receive $1,000 and an award certificate. A brick engraved with the awardee’s name will be placed in the Dunham Garden. 

Elligibility

• The nominee must be an active Cooperative Extension professional with a minimum of 10 years of concurrent Extension programming and employment in the college prior to the application deadline. 
• Previous recipients are not eligible for the award.

Criteria of Excellence

The recipient of this award:

• Demonstrates high program impact and solutions on critical community issues.
• Exceeds in their field of expertise, shown through sustained funding, awards, peer-reviewed publications, and requests for speaking engagements.
• Shows innovation in funding, partnerships and delivery of educational programming. 
• Excels in leadership, mentorship and teamwork inside and outside of Extension.

Nominate a student for the Benton Graduate Student Award!

The award is presented annually to two graduate students (one Ph.D. and one M.S.) who have excelled in research and have an outstanding record of academic accomplishments and service to their profession are eligible for nomination.