UNH Graduate School - Award Programs

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Important Notes

We offer a variety of award programs and financial assistance. Be sure to check out our calendar for important application dates.

Award Programs

Graduate Faculty Mentor Award

Each January, the Graduate School will solicit nominations for the Graduate Faculty Mentor Award.

Purpose of the award: This award is designed to honor a faculty member whose commitment to excellence in graduate student training has contributed significantly to graduate students’ professional development.

Eligibility: The nominee must be a member of the graduate faculty and must have a sustained commitment to graduate education.

Nomination Process: A formal letter of nomination is required and may be submitted by current or former graduate students or from members of the graduate faculty. The relevant qualities and attributes of the nominee’s mentorship according to the criteria of the award should be included in the letter.

Selection Process: The Student Affairs Committee of the Graduate Council will review all nominations. The committee will identify 3 -5 finalists from among those nominated. The nominator will then be contacted and asked to provide the names of 2 or 3 graduate students or alums who will then be contacted to provide additional letters of support. A letter of recommendation will also be solicited from the chair of the appropriate graduate program. In the event the chair is the nominee, a senior faculty member in the program will be asked to write a letter. The award winner is selected by April 1st.

Selection Criteria: The sole criterion for these awards is outstanding mentoring, which comes in many forms. The following are examples of the qualities and practices that can contribute to good mentoring. These criteria are listed in no particular order of importance, and a mentor need not display all of these qualities:

	Fosters the long-term development from student to colleague
	Encourages students to develop individual talents and strengths by acting as an advisor and guide in research and scholarship
	Facilitates students in acquiring the tools needed to succeed as scholars and professionals
	Sponsors students and their work in and beyond the campus community, including supporting student attendance and participation at conferences
	Acts as an advocate in administrative and professional matters, such as publishing, grant writing, presentation of research findings, post-doctoral options and job placement
	Demonstrates respect and a sincere and active interest in the well-being of students

Award: The recipient is announced during Graduate Student Appreciation Week each spring and receives the award at the Faculty Excellence Awards dinner in the fall. The recipient will receive a certificate of distinction and a monetary prize of $2,000.

Graduate Student Research/Scholarship/Creativity Award

Each January, the Graduate School will solicit nominations for the Graduate Student Research/Scholarship Awards. Two awards are made annually, one to a Master’s student and one to a doctoral student.

Purpose of Award: This award is designed to recognize graduate student research/scholarship and other creative works that represents the best overall contribution to the discipline.

Eligibility: Nominees must have received their degrees in the calendar year prior to January 1, of the year in which students are being nominated.

Nomination process: Each department/program may nominate 1 individual for each award. Departments may determine their own procedures for selecting nominees.

The following materials must be included with each nomination:

	A one-page cover sheet provided by the Graduate School.
	Letter of nomination from departmental chairperson or graduate program coordinator.
	Letters of support from two other faculty members or one faculty member and one other individual who have direct knowledge of the nominee’s research/scholarship or other creative work. It is important that the letters be more than testimonials, and they address the importance and contribution of the nominee’s research/scholarship or other creative work.
	Current CV
	A non-technical 1000 word abstract of the research/scholarship or other creative work which can easily be understood by all members of the committee

Selection Process: By April 1 each year, the Student Affairs Committee of the Graduate Council will choose awardees based on nominations and supporting materials.

Selection Criteria: The committee will select awardees based on the following criteria:

	originality of the research/scholarship or other creative work
	contribution of the research/scholarship or other creative work to the discipline
	contribution of the nominee’s efforts if the research/scholarship or other creative work is part of a team project or activity

Award: All nominees will be recognized at a public awards ceremony held during Graduate Student Appreciation Week and will receive a commemorative certificate. Award winners will also receive a monetary prize of $500.

Graduate Student Teaching Award

Each January the Graduate School will solicit nominations for the Graduate Student Teaching Awards. Up to fours awards are made annually (2 for master’s students and 2 for doctoral students).

Purpose of Award: Graduate Teaching Assistants contribute significantly to the teaching mission of the University. These awards are designed to recognize graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in teaching

Eligibility: Graduate students who are actively pursuing a degree in one of the graduate programs within the Graduate School and who have taught or played a significant instructional support role in one or more classes during the previous calendar year are eligible to be nominated. The award may only be received once at each level (master’s or doctoral) of a graduate student’s career.

Nomination process: A department may nominate 1 student for every 10 TA’s in the department. Departments may determine their own procedures for selecting nominees. We encourage departments to solicit information from both faculty and graduate students in choosing their nominees.

The following materials must be included with each nomination:

	A one-page cover sheet provided by the Graduate School.
	Letter of nomination from department chairperson or graduate program coordinator.
	Letters of support from either two faculty members or one faculty member and one other individual who have direct knowledge of the nominee’s teaching. It is important that the letters be more than testimonials, and that they address, with specific examples, the nominees teaching creativity, dedication, and excellence.
	One-page Statement on Teaching Philosophy from the nominee.
	Student evaluations for each course taught including summary sheets, when available.

Selection Process: By April 1 each year, the Student Affairs Committee of the Graduate Council will choose awardees based on nominations and submitted dossiers.

Selection Criteria: The committee will select awardees based on the following criteria:

	enthusiasm for teaching and learning
	mastery of subject area
	effectiveness in communicating subject to students
	continuous growth as a TA through use of creative and innovative teaching techniques
	overall effectiveness as a TA

Quick Links

	Faculty Mentor Award
	Research/Scholarship/Creativity Award
	Teaching Award