The Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Award recognizes demonstrated excellence in undergraduate advising and counseling by faculty of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. This award was established in 1988 by the late George R. Bunn and Arthur H. Bunn of the Bunn-O-Matic Corporation of Springfield, Illinois, to honor Karl E. Gardner for his dedication, service, and concern for undergraduate students. The late Dr. Gardner was a faculty member, teacher, and adviser of students in the Department of Dairy Science and later was associate dean and director of resident instruction for the college from 1959 until his retirement in 1977.
Each year the college presents one Karl E. Gardner Outstanding Undergraduate Adviser Award in recognition of excellence in advising undergraduate students. The award consists of a $2,000 unrestricted personal award and a certificate of recognition.
A nominee must be a faculty member in a tenure-track or tenured position who advises undergraduate students and holds a paid appointment in the college. Note that members of the faculty who are full-time administrators are not eligible for the award. An individual may receive this award only once. The unit head must verify the nominee's eligibility. If an issue arises concerning eligibility for the award, the issue will be decided by the associate dean of Academic Programs and the chair of the undergraduate educational policy committee of the college.
Nominations are submitted to the secretary of the Executive Committee using the online form. If the nominee is declared eligible by the unit head, the original and five copies of supporting materials listed should be submitted.
All supporting materials must be Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins and include the following:
Text should include personal information, education, employment record, and relevant affiliations. (One single-spaced 8.5" by 11" page maximum.)
Contributions to undergraduate student advising. (Eight double-spaced 8.5" by 11" pages maximum.)
Letters should consist of no more than four letters or supporting statements, excluding one from the person or persons making the nomination.
Supporting materials that deviate from these guidelines will be returned to the unit for revision.
Nominees will be evaluated and an award recipient selected by a five-person selection committee appointed from the college faculty. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for its operation. The committee will consider the achievements and contributions of the nominee for excellence in undergraduate student advising.
The selection committee may decide against granting an award if no meritorious candidate has been nominated. The selection committee shall submit its recommendation for a recipient, plus one alternate, to the dean. The dean shall notify the recipient, the appropriate associate dean and department head, and the secretary of the Executive Committee.
All copies of the supporting materials must be returned to the dean's office by the chair of the selection committee at the completion of the selection process.