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Igniting Excellence: Nominations Open for President’s Excellence Awards

The President’s Excellence Awards are the University of Nebraska’s most prestigious awards for teaching, research, innovation, engagement, and inclusion. They recognize individual faculty as well as academic and administrative units whose work has had a significant impact on students, their disciplinary fields, the university, and the state.

NU Seal

To enhance the visibility of UNO’s own exceptional faculty, we are taking a strategic and intentional approach to nominating and supporting candidates for these awards. Faculty and academic leaders are asked to be proactive in identifying potential nominees for not only system awards, but also for campus and disciplinary awards. We want to recognize faculty excellence that contributes to the fulfillment of an engaged metropolitan mission and enhances the reputation of UNO within the NU system and also more broadly.

“Great faculty are the lifeblood of any university, and we’re fortunate to have some of the very best serving across our campuses."

 University of Nebraska System President Ted Carter

Nominate, Celebrate, and Elevate

Nominations for the President's Excellence Awards are now open. This is your chance to shine a light on a colleague, department, or unit whose work has left a lasting mark on students, the university, and the state. Please send the names of potential nominees to Candice Batton, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, at cbatton@unomaha.edu. While final nomination materials for the President’s Excellence Awards are due Nov. 13, nominees are asked to declare their intent to apply by Oct. 15 - nominations can be submitted for oneself or a colleague. Academic Affairs will then work with potential nominees on portfolio development and to consider opportunities for scaffolding award materials.

Awards that Illuminate Excellence

The President's Excellence Awards encompass a range of categories, each honoring specific facets of excellence:

  • Faculty IP Innovation and Commercialization Award (FIPICA): Recognizing innovation from concept to licensing/startup business.
  • Outstanding Research and Creative Activity Award (ORCA): Celebrating national or international research or creative activity significance.
  • Outstanding Teaching and Instructional Creativity Award (OTICA): Honoring excellence and creativity in teaching.
  • Innovation, Development, and Engagement Award (IDEA): Recognizing academic expertise enriching the broader community.
  • Inclusive Excellence Collaboration Award (IECA): Celebrating diversity and inclusion contributions across units or campuses.
  • University-wide Departmental Teaching Award (UDTA): Acknowledging exceptional contributions to education at all levels.

Nominate Today!

Nominating excellence is a powerful way to recognize and motivate our outstanding colleagues and teams. Nomination criteria, information about past winners, and instructions can be found on the awards webpage. We encourage you to identify potential nominees by Oct. 15, 2023 and have the draft nomination packet completed by Nov. 1.

Let us unite in this journey to celebrate excellence, inspire greatness, and recognize those who tirelessly contribute to our shared mission. Your nominations are the first step towards that brilliant future.