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.

Eligibility 

All full-time, tenured and tenure track, and research track faculty members, except those who have been recipients within the previous five years (see below list), are eligible for nomination.

Levels of Recoginition

NEW for 2022-23.  There are two levels of recognition:

• Distinguished Early Career Research Award (Pre-Tenure) 
• Distinguished Senior Research Award (Post-Tenure)

Criteria

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.
• National 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 a faculty member 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. The nomination form should be completed.  Once submitted, the form will route to the department chair for review.  All nomination forms are due to the department chair by March 15, 2024.
2. Each department may nominate (2) faculty members in consideration for each award to the MT-IGO committee. 

3. The department chair or designee is responsible for submitting all nomination materials to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by the deadline of April 1, 2024.  Please email the below files to MTIGO@mtsu.edu. 

   • Nominating Letter. The nominating letter should emphasize the quality and significance of research contributions within the field of study.   The nominating letter should be written by the chair, or the chair's designee.
   • Curriculum Vitae. Please highlight the works that support the nomination.
   • (3) letters of support. The letter of support should evaluate the quality and impact of the nominee’s work throughout his or her career.  These letters may come from an internal or external source, with at least (1) from an external source.  
   • Maximum of 3 artifacts produced by the nominee. Examples include articles, books, conference proceedings, short stories, photography, films, or other scholarly- works.

The materials presented will be reviewed and the recipients will be determined by the MT-IGO 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 awards will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

All nomination materials, including letters of support, must be received by April 1, 2024.

 

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.

Eligiblity 

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.

Levels of Recoginition

NEW for 2022-23.  There are two levels of recognition:

• Distinguished Early Career Creative Activity Award
• Distinguished Senior Creative Activity Award
  
  

Criteria 

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

1. Nomination Form - filled electronically and signed.  Once completed, this form routes to the department chair for review.  Nomination forms are due to the department chair by March 15, 2024.
2. Each department may nominate (2) faculty members in consideration for each award to the MT-IGO committee.

3. The department chair or designee is responsible for submitting all nomination materials to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs by the deadline of April 1, 2024:

   • Nominating Letter. The nominating letter should emphasize the quality and significance of research contributions within the field of study. 
   • Curriculum Vitae. Please highlight the works that support the nomination.
   • (3) letters of support. The letter of support should evaluate the quality and impact of the nominee’s work throughout his or her career.  These letters may come from an internal or external source, with at least (1) from an external source.  
   • Maximum of 3 artifacts produced by the nominee. Examples include articles, books, conference proceedings, short stories, photography, films, or other scholarly- works.

The materials presented will be reviewed and the recipients will be determined by the MT-IGO 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 awards will be announced at the Annual Fall Faculty Meeting.

All nomination materials, including letters of support, must be received by April 1, 2024.