Faculty Awards and Excellence

The College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) accepts nominations for the following awards to recognize outstanding tenured/tenure-track, teaching, and research facultyin the college.

Faculty Awards

Nominations by Students

Nominations by Department Chairsor Program Directors

Nomination materials for the Hutchinson, Peters, Research, and Textbook awards are accepted annually. In 2026, nominations are due by 5 PM MT November 13, 2026.

The Associate Dean of Faculty Advancement (ADFA) collects nominations for each award via Microsoft Forms listed under each of the links below. The ADFA provides collated nominations for each award, assigning associate deans by area to assemble a committee of three prior awardees to review nominations and recommend an awardee to the ADFA and Dean.

Faculty Excellence Program

Dean’s Faculty Fellowships

The College of Engineering and Applied Science offers Dean’s Faculty Fellowships to provide selected faculty members a one course teaching release to focus on a major initiative in research and scholarly work, or the development of substantial educational materials or initiatives that extend beyond a single course. This fellowship semester may not be combined with or taken within one year of a sabbatical or differentiated workload. During the fellowship semester, the faculty member is expected to continue service, student advising, and research responsibilities and to remain primarily in residence at ñ.

Applications:Applications are due to the College of Engineering and Applied Science by 5:00PM MT on the third Monday in February for a fellowship taken during either semester of the following academic year. Applications must be submitted via the Microsoft Teams form linked below. Applicants will be asked to provide a description of the proposed activity and purpose of the fellowship; and the anticipated outcomes and benefits of the fellowship to you, students, your department/program, and/or CEAS. You will also be required to upload a one-page endorsement from your department chair or program director confirming that your course release can be accommodated by your unit.

Awarded Fellows:The dean’s office will provide $10,000 to the fellow’s home department or program to support the teaching release. A maximum of four fellowships will be awarded each year. Receipt of a dean’s faculty fellowship does not alter the faculty member’s annual merit evaluation formula.

Fellows must submit a report by 5 PM the first Friday in September following the fellowship, documenting the activities completed, outcomes achieved, and resulting benefits of the fellowship.

CEAS Dean’s Research and Policy Advancement Fellows

Purpose: The College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) Dean’s Research and Policy Advancement Fellows program recognizes faculty who actively shape research and policy agendas at the local, state, and national levels. Nominees may influence these agendas through service on advisory boards, task forces, or committees; authoring policies, briefs, or regulations; testifying before government bodies; contributing to national reports; or participating in prestigious fellowship programs (e.g., MacArthur, AAAS) that advance research and policy. Note: This should be recent/current work versus work you are proposing to take place in the future.

Awarded Fellows: Faculty fellows will receive up to $3,000 from the Dean's fund for excellence for reimbursement for discretionary expenses incurred during the calendar year of the fellowship. Eligible faculty include tenure-track, teaching, and research professors. Fellows may be selected to participate in training activities, such as media training, to help amplify the visibility and impact of their work. As appropriate, fellows will be featured in CEAS communications to highlight their contributions. Details regarding the reimbursement process, including speedtype and timeline, will be provided to fellows upon receipt of the award.

Nominations are due annually on or before 5 PM on February 15, coinciding with Faculty Reporting of Professional Activities.

Dean’s Seed Fund for Novel Ideas

The college has set aside discretionary funds to provide seed support for new ideas. Faculty may submit a proposal at any time. It should include a one-page description of the idea and its anticipated benefits, including a brief budget. The amount requested from the dean’s office should be matched 1:1 from the department or program, and the total should not exceed $10,000 ($15,000, if two units are involved). Note that a supporting letter from the chair or director is not required; instead, the dean’s office will send the chair or director an email to confirm the match for each selected proposal that requires matching funds.

Application materials for a Dean’s Faculty Fellowship orDean’s Seed Fundshould be submitted to Associate Dean for Faculty Advancement Amy Javernick-Will.

New Venture Challenge Program

Since its inception in 2009, the New Venture Challenge (NVC) program and competitions—run out of the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative—have been known as ñ’s entrepreneurial “flight simulator.” NVC gives aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to build a startup through entrepreneurial events and programming, community support, mentorship and—ultimately—funding. Participants represent majors and departments from across the university. From undergraduates to graduates, PhD candidates to postdocs, and faculty to staff, everyone is invited to pitch their idea.

Faculty Promotion and Tenure Achievement Award

The Faculty Promotion and Tenure Achievement Award recognizes tenured/tenure-track faculty in the College of Engineering and Applied Science for earning a promotion and/or tenure. It recognizes faculty members’ contributions in teaching, researchand service leading to their promotion to associate professor with tenure or to full professor. A faculty member will earn this award upon final campus-level or Board of Regents approval (as required). The award is presented in the form of a bronze buffalo statue with an engraved glass plaque.