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College of Education Distinguished Scholar Program
| Introduction | Application Process | Evaluation Criteria | Related Information |
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Introduction
The Distinguished Scholar Program recognizes a faculty member's productivity, scholarly quality, influence and significance of a candidate's scholarship. Scholars are selected through a competitive process and receive a stiped to support their future research.
Application Process
The deadline for receipt of nominations is April 28, 2008.
Faculty are eligible for the Distinguished Scholar Award within the first 10 years after finishing their terminal degree. Those more than 10 years beyond their degree are eligible for the Distinguished Senior Scholar Award. Individuals who have already received the Scholar award are also eligible for the Senior Scholar award after they have passed the 10-year mark.
Nominations can come from the candidate, the candidate’s department, or any colleague within the college. The letter of nomination should be written by someone who knows the candidate’s work very well and can speak in an informed way about its impact and visibility within the field.
- Letters of nomination should bear the burden of proof that a candidate's record is "distinguished" according to the criteria cited earlier.
- The curriculum vitae that accompanies an application should conform to the same basic format used for College promotion and tenure applications (i.e., those sections documenting scholarship and professional service).
- Two representative publications should be included.
- Two letters of support, one of which must be from outside the University of Illinois, from scholars in this research area who could comment on the quality and impact of the work.
Evaluation Criteria
The awards are based solely upon criteria of scholarly quality, significance, and productivity. Productivity is indexed by the volume of published books, book chapters, and refereed articles in one’s field, as well as the duration and consistency of one’s scholarly performance over a period of time. Aside from sheer numbers, however, the award also recognizes the quality, influence, and significance of a candidate’s scholarship. The criteria for selection at the Distinguished and Distinguished Senior levels are much the same, but they are calibrated against different reference groups. Suitable questions to ask in evaluating quality and significance are:
- Does the individual's work find its way into the very best outlets in the field?
- Is the work highly regarded by peers?
- How has this person's scholarship advanced or changed the field ?
- What conceptual and theoretical advances are evident in this scholarship?
- What methodological advances are evident in this scholarship?
- Is the scholarship programmatic, sustained, and cumulative ?
- Has this scholarship opened up new areas of inquiry ?
- How has this scholarship influenced educational practices and policy ?
Related Information
Recipients of both Distinguished Scholar and Distinguished Senior Scholar Awards will offer a college-wide lecture in the Bureau Seminar Series during the year in which they receive the award. Additionally, their names will be added to the Distinguished College Scholars plaque in the north lobby, they will be recognized at our College Convocation, and they will receive a stipend to support their future research.
Previous Distinguished Scholar and Distinguished Senior Scholar Award Recipients
The College Research Committee will review applications and awards will be made on or before May 23, 2008.