UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards

• The UTRGV Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching is the university's highest honor for outstanding teaching. This award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated a profound commitment to enhancing the quality of education, leading curriculum development, and actively engaging students, thereby contributing significantly to student success at the institution. There will be up to two (2) awards in this category in which all full-time faculty with at least three years of service at UTRGV are eligible. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend.

• The Faculty Excellence Award in Online Teaching is the university's highest honor for outstanding online teaching. This award recognizes faculty who have demonstrated a profound commitment to enhancing the quality of online education, creative curriculum development, and innovative approaches to engaging students outside the classroom, thereby contributing significantly to student success at the institution. There be will one (1) award in this category in which all full-time faculty with at least three years of service at UTRGV are eligible, regardless of rank. The recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend.

• The UTRGV Faculty Excellence Awards in Research are the university's highest honors for outstanding faculty research/scholarship/creative work. It celebrates exceptional contributions to knowledge, innovation, and scholarly excellence. Recipients of this award have demonstrated significant impact in their field, advancing the frontiers of research and enhancing the university's reputation for academic excellence. This award acknowledges the dedication, creativity, and scholarly achievements of faculty members who have made remarkable strides in their scholarship endeavors. There will be up to two (2) awards in this category in which all full-time faculty with at least three years of service at UTRGV are eligible. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend.

• The Faculty Excellence Award in Service is the university's highest honor highlighting the individual's enduring commitment to service, underscoring the importance of giving back and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. The award honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and impact through their service to the university, the community, and their profession. This prestigious accolade recognizes those whose contributions have significantly advanced the institution's mission, fostered community engagement, and elevated the standards of their professional field. There will be one (1) award in this category in which all full-time faculty with at least three years of service at UTRGV are eligible. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend.

• The UTRGV Distinguished Career Award honors a senior faculty member (tenured or non-tenure track) who has demonstrated exceptional excellence in teaching, service, and scholarly contributions over a distinguished career spanning 20 years (or more) at UTRGV and its legacy institutions. This prestigious accolade particularly celebrates those whose impactful contributions have significantly advanced the success of both students and faculty, setting a benchmark for academic and professional excellence. One Distinguished Career Award will be presented with a $7,000 stipend.

• The UTRGV Emerging Scholar Award recognizes and rewards exceptional tenure-track faculty who have demonstrated excellence in research or creative works early in their careers. This signifies a trajectory toward leading scholars who impact their field and society. Early career faculty with an outstanding record of strongscholarly achievements will be considered. There will be one (1) award in this category in which all tenure-track full-time faculty (who have completed three years of service to UTRGV) are eligible. The recipient will receive a $5,000 stipend.

1. All full-time UTRGV faculty members who, at the time of nomination, have completed at least three consecutive years of full-time service at UTRGV. Part-time faculty and full-time administrators are not eligible for nomination.
2. Nominated faculty should NOT have been a recipient of a UTRGV excellence award in the same category as current nomination within the last five years.
3. Nominated faculty should NOT have been a recipient of any UTRGV excellence award within the last three years.
4. Online Teaching Award Eligibility: Faculty nominees must have designed and taught one or more online course in the last three years. 
5. Distinguished Career Award Eligibility: Faculty nominees must have at least 20 years of service to UTRGV and its legacy institutions as full-time faculty members. (Intermittent administrative service to UTRGV will count toward the 20 years.)

Timeline for 2024-2025