Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
Unversity Scholars Program
Faculty excellence is the cornerstone of any university of high quality. There is no more important task at the University of Illinois than attracting and retaining the very best teachers and scholars. The Faculty Excellence Award Program is designed to identify outstanding members of the faculty and to provide each with a modest amount of funds annually for a defined number of years. The importance of these awards lies in the flexibility with which the funds may be spent. Recipients may use the funds at their discretion to enhance their scholarly work, except for salary rate increases which are not permitted. The awards are not made for a specific project or proposal; rather, they are a symbol of the recipient's excellence and the University's commitment to foster outstanding people and their work. Therefore, the awards are made through nominations, not by application.
Each campus will determine its selection criteria and process. Prior to the end of the academic year, the Chancellors will submit the selection results to the President. Formal announcements of new University scholars will generally be timed to coincide with the beginning of the academic year following selection.
Awards of $10,000 per year will be made on a 3-year basis to members of the faculty whose work is clearly superior. University Scholars may be individuals already on the University of Illinois faculty, or the awards may be used to attract faculty from other institutions to the University. Nominees for these awards will be carefully screened to assure that those selected are among the very best in their fields.
April 1999