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Office of the Provost
11200 S.W. 8th Street
Miami, Fl 33199 PC 526
Phone 305.348.2151
Fax 305.348.2990
Internal Award and Distinction Opportunities
Florida International University is proud to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of its faculty through a variety of internal honorific awards and distinctions. Each award has specific criteria that reflect the values and mission of FIU, ensuring that recipients embody the highest standards of academic and professional excellence. In addition to the specific criteria for any of the awards listed on this website, the faculty member must be in good standing from the time of the nominations to when the award is actually conferred on the faculty member.
FIU recognizes that academic excellence is driven by dedicated faculty who instruct, research, create, mentor and serve. We are proud of our distinguished faculty who are leaders in their research areas and have been frequently recognized with awards and honors for their expertise, leadership and contribution.
Several areas within FIU honor these individuals each year with an award for significant achievements featured below. Click on any of the areas to learn more about honors and recognitions.
President’s Council Outstanding Faculty Award
The President’s Council Outstanding Faculty Award recognizes faculty who:
- Engage in significant research, partnership or creative initiatives that make an impact in their field, in the community and/or the world
- Promote student learning, innovation and collaboration in teaching, mentorship or advising
- Demonstrate distinguished leadership within the university, the profession, and the larger community
All full-time faculty who have been employed at FIU for a minimum of three years are eligible to apply. The award recipient receives a cash award of $15,000. The President’s Council welcomes participation from all academic disciplines. We strongly encourage all colleges and schools to submit at least one nomination from their areas.
Online nominations usually open in the late spring and the President’s Council Outstanding Faculty Award recipient is conferred at the Faculty Convocation Award Ceremony in the Fall semester.
Should you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact prescoun@fiu.edu or 305-348-4111.
Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Initiative
This award in teaching excellence is a part of the Evaluating and Rewarding Teaching Initiative. The Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Initiative awards are intended to recognize faculty who are working to create learning-centered, inclusive classroom experiences by using evidence/information from their own classrooms to inform instructional design and practice.
Top Scholars
Top scholars are recognized in the areas of teaching, research and service. Nominations from deans, chairs and colleagues identify individual faculty who have excelled in the categories listed below. Top Scholars are selected by a committee of peers, the provost and the president. Top Scholars are honored in a reception hosted by the president and provost where faculty share their stories of achievement and the passion that drives their work.
Research and Creative Activities categories:
- Award-winning publications
- Award-winning creative work
- Notable Academic Appointments
- Awards/Honors
- Junior Faculty with Significant Grants (Humanities and Sciences)
- Senior Faculty with Significant Grants (Humanities and Sciences)
Teaching and Mentoring categories:
- Dedicated Mentoring (undergraduate and/or graduate)
- Junior Faculty with Notable Gains in Student Learning and Success (Humanities and Sciences)
- Established Faculty with Notable Gains in Student Learning and Success (Humanities and Sciences)
- Teaching Scholarship
- Globally Engaged and/or Culturally Responsive Teaching
- Engagement Beyond the Classroom
See past honorees.
Select individuals are recognized with an award for significant achievements in their scholarly pursuits during the grand Faculty Convocation and Awards Ceremony, FIU’s annual celebration of the collective accomplishments of our faculty.
Faculty are recognized for their excellence in award categories including Teaching, Gateway Teaching, Research & Creative Activities, Engagement, Service, Advising & Mentorship and Librarianship. Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching and President’s Council World’s Ahead Faculty awards are also conferred.
FIU celebrates faculty research and innovation. The Office of the Provost and the Office of Research and Economic Development cohost an annual celebration in recognition of all the patent recipients. Through their work and connections, faculty inventors are promoting FIU and building our reputation among the highest levels of both the public and private sectors.
Description
The Fain Fellow award recognizes outstanding performance by our faculty in advancing the university’s mission and encourages the continued development of exceptional initiatives. Awardees are named Fain Fellows and presented with The Fain Medal at the annual Faculty Convocation.
In addition, they will receive a certificate noting the reason for receiving this honor and a one-time stipend of $10,000 from the Florida International University Foundation. Finally, the names and dates of award recipients will be placed on wall plaques in the Fain Room in the Green Library and near the Founders plaque in the Hubert Library.
The Fain Medal will be awarded to a member of the faculty who demonstrates a commitment to the mission of FIU as reflected in the university motto Spes Scientia Facultas (Hope, Knowledge, Opportunity).
Hope
Focus on improving the world (as viewed on a spectrum ranging from a single individual to the world at large).
Knowledge
Focus on the transmission, dissemination, or generation of information (as represented in forms including, but not limited to, teaching, research, and experimentation).
Opportunity
Focus on the creation and realization of occasions for success and progress (as represented by individuals, groups, organizations, and societies).
Eligibility
Faculty members who have held a full-time academic appointment at FIU for a minimum of five consecutive years (tenured or non-tenured track).
Criteria
- A demonstration of a sustained commitment to advancing the mission of FIU
- A body of work demonstrating impact locally, regionally, globally, or within a specific discipline aligned with two of the three facets of the University’s motto
- A record of engagement beyond regular appointments such as, but not limited to:
- Activities focused on enhancing the academic lives of students
- Addressing the needs of students, staff, or faculty
- Building linkages connecting the University with various communities
- The improvement or creation of academic or professional agendas of excellence
- Evidence of Philanthropy to FIU
- Activities can be at the program, department, college or school, or University level
- This is a one-time award, and recipients are not eligible for a second nomination
Purpose
Distinguished University Professor is the highest recognition available to Full Professors of the University. These Professors are the leaders of FIU and set the example for research, scholarship, creative activities, teaching, and service excellence.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Distinguished University Professorship, the individual must have held the rank of full professor for five years and be recognized as a pioneering force in her/his specific area of research/scholarship/creative activities. Although the profiles of individuals selected may vary, successful candidates generally will be recognized internationally for her/his outstanding accomplishments in his/her field and beyond.
However, candidates who emphasize their accomplishments in teaching must demonstrate that they have achieved an exemplary record at the institutional and national levels. Candidates who emphasize service must likely emphasize service at the national level and significant leadership within their own disciplines.
Nomination Procedure
- Each Spring semester the nomination and review process will take place. The conferral of this designation will take place each year at Faculty Convocation. Awards will normally not exceed five per year. Nominations may come from an FIU sponsor, or directly from the nominee, i.e., self-nominations are
- Nominees will submit their full nomination packages (including the two endorsements from Chair/Director and Dean/VP) via email to the Office of Faculty & Global Affairs, Office of the Provost, for consideration at ofga@fiu.edu.
- The nomination package must include the following:
- Letter of nomination from applicant or FIU
- A copy of the faculty member’s complete curriculum vitae
- Letter of endorsement from nominee’s Chair or Director
- Letter of endorsement from the nominee’s Dean or VP
- Letters of support from (no more than) three members of the faculty, staff, and/or alumni (next to the letters of nomination from the Chair or Director, as well as Dean or VP mentioned above)
- List of courses taught, students supervised, summaries of student evaluations, etc. for the past five years
- Copies of the past five annual evaluations
- Summary of professional service and research over at least the past five years
- A list of contact information of five external references from outside of the university who may be contacted as
Review Process
University Special Selection Committee:
The University Special Selection Committee will be formed by the Office of the Provost in consultation with the Chair of the Faculty Senate. This committee will be comprised of 5 senior faculty members. They will be charged with reviewing the submitted nominations and making the final recommendations to the Provost. The committee must be balanced regarding disciplinary and subject expertise and will serve for no more than three years. Each year the committee will select its own Chair. If a member of the committee is nominated for the award while serving on the committee, the Provost will appoint an alternative member for that year. The University Special Selection Committee will forward their recommendations to the Provost for consideration.
Recognition of Awardees
The Provost will designate up to five Distinguished University Professors each year and individuals selected will receive a $5,000 base salary adjustment as part of the annual salary increase process in the academic year following their selection as Distinguished University Professors. Each honoree will be invited to give a University-wide address during the academic year. The State University System title of Distinguished Professor (Class Code 9007) will be used to classify individuals selected as Distinguished University Professors.