Research and Creative Activity Distinguished Awards

Each year the faculty members at Middle Tennessee State University nominate their peers for the Distinguished Research Award. This award recognizes research achievement defined as "original scholarly activity, which generates new knowledge, product or application." This award generally represents the combined results of a systematic research program. This award also carries a monetary honorarium from the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation.

For the purpose of this award, research includes original scholarly activity, which generates new knowledge, product or application. This definition includes empirical studies, analytical literature searches which result in substantial modification of existing explanations of events, and/or creation of scholarly works of expression or appreciation. This award is not designed to recognize a single major breakthrough, but generally represents the combined results of a systematic research program.

All full-time, non-temporary faculty members, except those who have been recipients within the previous five years (see below list), are eligible for nomination. No one is eligible for more than one Foundation Award in any given year.

To be eligible for the award, the research should meet the following criteria.

• Originality. The research should generate new knowledge, new creative expression, or substantially reorganize and reinterpret existing knowledge.
• Advancement. The research should foster the development of theory and explanations of topics or directly contribute to the understanding and solution of important problems.
• Recognition. The research must be recognized as a significant contribution to the academic discipline.
• Time Frame. The research must have been performed while an employee of MTSU and either worked upon or completed within the last five years.

Nomination Procedure

The official nomination form must be completed and included. Nominations must be submitted by two faculty members within the discipline or closely allied fields. A faculty member may recommend no more than one nominee.  With reference to the stated criteria and in consultation with members of the academic discipline, the following materials are requested for consideration:

1. Nomination Form - filled electronically.
2. The form provides space for a short statement from the sponsors where they would summarize the nominee's research and contributions.  
3. After the March 15th deadline, the MT-IGO administration will inform the nominee of their nomination. Once the nominee accepts the nomination, the sponsors will be notified for further action.
   1. The sponsors must arrange for a minimum of 2 reference letters be sent directly to MTIGO@mtsu.edu before the April 1st deadline.  Please note that MT-IGO will not solicit letters of references on behalf of the nominees or the sponsors. 
   2. The support letters must be typed on official letter head and scanned to PDF format before they are sent to by email to MTIGO@mtsu.edu. 
   3. Restrictions on who can serve as a nominee's reference: The references must be non-MTSU individuals who are familiar with the nominee's research but they must not have worked with the nominee on the project for which the nomination has been made.
4. The sponsors or the nominee must submit the following minimum requirements for the MT-IGO committee to judge their candidacy before the April 1st deadline:
   1. Nominee's Vitae - PDF preferred. 
   2. No more than three representative pieces of work (video, written materials, scores, etc.) - email files  to MTIGO@mtsu.edu.  Documents and other types of media suitable for online sharing will be circulated among the MT-IGO committee through a shared-drive.  Other materials that are not compatible for online sharing will be stored in the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for committee review.
   3. A short biography on the nominee:
      • Sample for Social Sciences faculty
      • Sample for Applied Sciences faculty

The materials presented will be reviewed and the winner(s) will be determined by the Committee.  In addition, the committee may request additional information or a personal interview of the nominee if the committee is unable to make a decision. The recipient(s) of the award will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

All nomination documents, including reference letters, must be received by the deadline listed above.

 

Each year the faculty members at Middle Tennessee State University nominate their peers for the Distinguished Creative Activity Award. This award recognizes creative achievement defined as "original, imaginative works of artistic merit as distinguished from empirical/analytical works of scholarly research."  This award also carries a monetary honorarium from the Middle Tennessee State University Foundation.

For the purpose of this award, "creative achievement" is defined as original, imaginative works of artistic merit generally associated with the fine or performing arts. This award is NOT designed to recognize a single major work, but recognizes consistent and sustained contributions to the arts.

All full-time, non-temporary faculty members, except those who have been recipients within the previous five years (see below list), are eligible for nomination. No one is eligible for more than one Foundation Award in any given year.

To be eligible for the award, the activity should meet the following criteria.

• Originality. The work should be an original product or performance of artistic inventiveness.
• Recognition. The work must be recognized as a significant artistic contribution.
• Time frame. The creative activity must have been performed while an employee of MTSU and either worked upon or completed within the last five years.

Nomination Procedure

The official nomination form must be completed and included. Nominations must be submitted by two faculty members within the discipline or closely allied fields. Please note that each faculty member may recommend no more than one nominee for the year. 

With reference to the stated criteria and in consultation with members of the academic discipline, the following materials are requested for consideration:

1. Nomination Form - filled electronically and signed - Click here.  The form provides space for a short statement from the sponsors where they would summarize the nominee's creative contributions.  
2. The MT-IGO administration will inform the nominee wthe nominee of their nomination. Once the nominee accepts the nomination, the sponsors will be notified for further action.
   1. The sponsors must arrange for a minimum of 2 reference letters be sent directly to MTIGO@mtsu.edu before the April 1st deadline.  Please note that MT-IGO will not solicit the referees for letters of support.  
   2. The support letters must be typed on official letter head and scanned to PDF format.  The reference letters must emailed to MTIGO@mtsu.edu
   3. Restrictions on who can be a reference for the nominee - the references must be non-MTSU individuals who are familiar with the nominee's research but must not have worked with the nominee on the creative activity for which the nomination has been made.
3. The sponsors or the nominee must submit the following minimum requirements for the MT-IGO committee to judge their candidacy before the April 1st deadline:
   1. Nominee's Vitae - PDF preferred. 
   2. No more than three representative pieces of work (video, written materials, scores, etc.) - email MTIGO@mtsu.edu to know how to send the pieces of work for review. Documents and other types of media suitable for online sharing will be circulated among the MT-IGO committee through a shared-drive.  Other materials that are not compatible for online sharing will be stored in the Office of Research for committee review.  
   3. A short biography on the nominee:
      • Sample for Social Sciences faculty
      • Sample for Applied Sciences faculty

The materials presented will be reviewed and the winner(s) will be determined by the committee.  In addition, the committee may request additional information or a personal interview if MT-IGO is unable to make a determination. The recipient(s) will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

All nomination documents, including reference letters, must be received by the deadline listed above.