This award is presented to encourage and recognize the professorial career of tenured faculty in their performance and commitment to teaching and advising; research and publications; extension and public service; faculty governance; and participation in professional associations. The award, which was first presented in 2003, also memorializes the unique mission and rich history of the public land-grant university and exemplifies the continued opportunities it offers for worldwide contribution to the betterment of humankind and to democratic institutions in an ever-changing environment.
The award is supported by the U of I Foundation Robert G.F. Spitze Educational Fund and the Hazel Taylor Spitze Educational Fund. Robert G.F. Spitze served as a faculty member in agricultural economics beginning in 1960 and retired as professor emeritus in 1993. Hazel Taylor Spitze served as a faculty member in home economics education beginning in 1962 and retired as professor emerita in 1987.
Each year the college may present one Spitze Land-Grant Professorial Career Excellence Award, which includes a $5,000 unrestricted personal award, a $1,000 unrestricted program award, an etched crystal award, and a certificate of recognition.
A nominee must be a member of the tenured faculty with at least 15 years of continuous paid appointment (over 50 percent) with the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, inclusive of approved leaves. The recipient must be so employed when the nominating dossier is submitted, and may receive this award only once. Members of the faculty who are full-time administrators are eligible for the Spitze Land-Grant Professional Career Excellence Award. The department head must verify the nominee's eligibility. If an issue arises concerning eligibility, the College Executive Committee will decide the issue.
Nominations may be submitted by any student, staff member, or faculty member of the U of I College of ACES. Nominations are submitted to the secretary of the Executive Committee using the online form. When the secretary gives notification of eligibility, the original and nine copies of the supporting materials listed below should be submitted.
All supporting materials must be Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins and include the following:
Should include personal information, education, employment record, and relevant affiliations. Also include relevant patterns of appointment in teaching, research, extension, administration, and participation in faculty governance and professional associations. (One single-spaced 8.5" by 11" page maximum.)
Listing of the nominee's service in the areas of teaching, extension, research, and governance that would be included in a professional vita. (Four double-spaced 8.5" by 11" pages maximum.)
Provide an overall evaluation regarding performance and commitment to the land-grant mission of teaching and advising; research and publications; extension and public service; faculty governance; and participation in professional associations. (Eight double-spaced 8.5" by 11" pages maximum.)
Letters should consist of no more than four letters or supporting statements, excluding the nominator's communication.
Supporting materials that deviate from these guidelines will be returned to the unit for revision. Nominating materials may be resubmitted in subsequent years with an updated letter of nomination.
Nominees will be evaluated and award recipients selected by a nine-person committee appointed from the college faculty, which may include some or all members of other college award committees, and will include the immediate past recipient and one emeritus professor. The chair of the selection committee, in consultation with its members, shall develop guidelines for its operation. The selection committee will consider each nominee's sustained and comprehensive excellence in the academic performances heretofore identified as central to the land-grant mission. The selection committee will submit its recommendation to the dean. After ascertaining that the selection procedures used meet the guidelines established by the Executive Committee, the dean will notify the recipient, the department head of the recipient, and the secretary of the Executive Committee.
The college may, but is not obligated to, make one award each year.
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.