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Faculty Award Descriptions

Summary of Awards
Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award
University Professorship
Alumni Professorship
General Education Professorship
BYU Class of 1949 Young Faculty Award
Early Career Scholarship Award
Early Career Teaching Award
Karl G. Maeser Excellence in Teaching Award
Karl G. Maeser Research & Creative Arts Award
Karl G. Maeser Professional Faculty Excellence Award
Abraham O. Smoot Citizenship Award
Wesley P. Lloyd Award for Distinction in Graduate Education
Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Award
Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award
Alcuin Fellowships

Summary of Awards


The table below presents a brief summary of the university faculty awards.

Award Total Value* Awards per Year Emphasis Eligibility Requirements
Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer $22,000 per year for 5 years; renewable 1 All areas CFS; Professor
University Professorship $18,000 per year for 5 years; renewable 1 Scholarship or Teaching CFS; Professor
Alumni Professorship $8,000 per year for 3 years 1 Mentoring CFS
General Education Professorship $8,000 per year for 3 years 1 Teaching CFS; at least 10 years at BYU
BYU Class of 1949 Young Faculty Award $8,000 per year for 3 years 1 Scholarship 3–10 years at BYU; pre-CFS preferred
Early Career Scholarship Award $8,000 per year for 3 years 4 Scholarship 3–10 years at BYU; post-CFS preferred
Early Career Teaching Award $8,000 per year for 3 years 4 Teaching 3–10 years at BYU
Karl G. Maeser Excellence in Teaching Award $6,000, one-time 3 Teaching CFS
Karl G. Maeser Research & Creative Arts Award $6,000, one-time 3 Scholarship CFS
Karl G. Maeser Professional Faculty Excellence Award $6,000, one-time 3 Professional assignment CFS
Abraham O. Smoot Citizenship Award $6,000, one-time 1 University citizenship CFS; at least 15 years at BYU
Wesley P. Lloyd Award for Distinction in Graduate Education $6,000, one-time 1 All areas CFS
Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Award $3,000, one-time 1 Teaching & Citizenship in the Community CFS; at least 5 years at BYU
Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award $3,000, one-time 4 Teaching At least 5 years as adjunct at BYU
*See individual award descriptions for details of salary and annual support values where applicable.
MDFL award value is greater in the first year. See award description.
The professional faculty ranks of Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Clinical Professor, and Senior Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Professor.

Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award is the most prestigious faculty award given by the university. The recipient of the award must have demonstrated sustained and clear superiority in commitment to the Aims of a BYU Education through teaching, scholarship, and university citizenship. Individuals considered for this award are distinguished in their disciplines, are outstanding mentors to students, and are typically senior faculty members who are in the latter stages of their BYU careers.

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Professor.

The Academic Vice President’s Council and deans will work together to identify one or two candidates from each college by February 15 of each year. Based on this collaboration, the deans will be invited to prepare a one-page nomination for each candidate. This nomination will be evaluated along with teaching and scholarship data in making a final selection.

Final one-page nominations for this award, along with a current CV for the nominee, should be submitted by deans to the AAVP–FD (faculty_awards@byu.edu), RE: Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Nomination.

The Karl G. Maeser Distinguished Faculty Lecturer will receive a cash award of $12,000 and an annual support award of $10,000, will present a university forum address, will be honored at a special luncheon, and will be granted the title Karl G. Maeser Distinguished University Professor. In subsequent years, the recipient will receive an $8,000 annual salary stipend and a $10,000 annual support award, which may be renewed in five-year increments upon recommendation from the department chair and dean and with approval from the academic vice president.

University Professorship


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

University professorships encourage and acknowledge senior professorial and professional faculty members who are outstanding scholars, teachers, and university citizens. Some university professorships recognize faculty who are excellent scholars and who thereby teach others in their discipline. Other university professorships specifically reward and enhance superior classroom teaching. Yet others acknowledge those who may be highly accomplished in both areas. In short, professorships are used to improve learning, including both scholarship and teaching.

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Professor.

Each university professorship is awarded for a 5-year term and carries an $8,000 annual salary stipend and a $10,000 annual support award. University professorships may be renewed, upon recommendation from the department chair and dean and with approval from the academic vice president.

The professional faculty ranks of Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Clinical Professor, and Senior Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Professor.

Alumni Professorship


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This professorship was established to recognize faculty with professorial or professional rank* who have provided exceptional service to BYU through a sustained, long-term commitment to student mentoring outside of regular classroom activities. Mentoring may take many forms, including providing experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom, advising students about career and educational opportunities, involving students in research or creative projects, etc.**

Following an initial review by the AAVP–FD, nominations are forwarded to the Managing Director of Alumni and External Relations for ranking and then returned to the AAVP–FD by no later than April 5 for review by the University Faculty Awards Committee.

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Associate Professor or Professor or other equivalent faculty rank.***

The Alumni Professorship is awarded for a 3-year term and carries a $4,000 annual salary stipend and a $4,000 annual support award. It is not renewable.

*Professional faculty members who positions descriptions preclude mentoring are not eligible. **"The nature of mentoring will differ significantly by discipline and assignment." Please see Rank and Status Policy 3.1. ***The professional faculty ranks of Associate Teaching Professor, Associate Research Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, and Associate Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Associate Professor. The professional faculty ranks of Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Clinical Professor, and Senior Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Professor.

General Education Professorship


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This professorship was established to recognize exceptional service to General Education at BYU through outstanding teaching; development of new courses, programs or philosophies; and by a willingness to commit significant time and energy to the teaching of General Education courses.

To be eligible for this award, candidates must have CFS and at least 10 years of service at BYU as either a professorial or professional faculty member with sustained teaching expectations. Criteria for selection include a history of service to Undergraduate Education programs and evidence of a consistent pattern of high-quality teaching.

Following an initial review by the AAVP–FD, nominations are sent to the Dean of Undergraduate Education, who will review all nominations and select and rank the top 3 nominees. Undergraduate Education will submit names and rankings for the top 3 nominees to the AAVP–FD by no later than April 5 for review by the University Faculty Awards Committee.

The General Education Professorship is awarded for a 3-year term and carries an annual salary stipend of $4,000 and a $4,000 annual support award. It is not renewable.

BYU Class of 1949 Young Faculty Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award encourages and acknowledges outstanding promise and contributions by junior faculty in scholarship* and teaching. Preference will be given to nominees who have not yet received CFS.

To be eligible for this award, an individual should have been a faculty member at BYU for at least 3 years, but not more than 10 years, and hold the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor.

*Scholarship criteria will differ among disciplines. Please see Rank and Status Policy 3.3.

This award is for a 3-year term and carries a $3,000 annual salary stipend and a $5,000 annual support award. It is not renewable.

Early Career Scholarship Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award encourages and acknowledges outstanding promise and contributions in scholarship* by faculty at an early stage of their career. Preference will be given to nominees who have received CFS. To be eligible for this award, an individual should have been a faculty member at BYU for at least 3 years, but not more than 10 years, and hold the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor.

*Scholarship criteria will differ among disciplines. Please see Rank and Status Policy 3.3.

This award is for a 3-year term and carries a $3,000 annual salary stipend and a $5,000 annual support award. It is not renewable.

Early Career Teaching Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award encourages and acknowledges outstanding promise and contributions in teaching by faculty at an early stage of their career.To be eligible for this award an individual should have been a faculty member at BYU for at least 3 years, but not more than 10 years, and in a rank of Assistant or Associate Professor or an equivalent professional rank.*

This award is for a 3-year term and carries a $3,000 annual salary stipend and a $5,000 annual support award. It is not renewable.

*The professional faculty ranks of Assistant Teaching Professor, Assistant Research Professor, and Assistant Clinical Professor correspond to the professorial rank of Assistant Professor. The professional rank of Associate Teaching Professor, Associate Research Professor, and Associate Clinical Professor correspond to professorial faculty rank of Associate Professor.

Karl G. Maeser Excellence in Teaching Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated sustained and clear superiority in teaching. Recipients of this award should provide instruction that is rigorous, inspiring, and based on high expectations of their students. The learning activities and teaching strategies they employ should be successfully directed toward students’ comprehension, understanding, and reasoning.

One of these awards may be given to honor a faculty member who is doing innovative work to enhance learning through instructional design, pedagogical innovations, or student mentoring. Another may be given to a faculty member who demonstrates successful integration of experiential learning into the learning activities of their students. These experiences might include work in the studio, lab, or field; study abroad programs; service learning; meaningful internships; or undergraduate research.

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Each recipient of this award will receive a cash award of $6,000.

The professional faculty ranks of Associate Teaching Professor, Associate Research Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, and Associate Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Associate Professor. The professional faculty ranks of Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Clinical Professor, and Senior Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Professor.

Karl G. Maeser Research & Creative Arts Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award recognizes exceptional distinction in research or creative arts or performances. Recipients of this award should have gained recognition and influence in their discipline reaching well beyond local or regional boundaries, such as significant refereed publications, research funding, invited presentations at national or international symposia, significant service to national or international research-related professional organizations, or juried displays and performances.

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Each recipient of this award will receive a cash award of $6,000.

The professional faculty ranks of Associate Teaching Professor, Associate Research Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, and Associate Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Associate Professor. The professional faculty ranks of Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Clinical Professor, and Senior Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Professor.

Karl G. Maeser Professional Faculty Excellence Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in fulfilling professional faculty responsibilities. Recipients of this award are professional faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in citizenship and in their professional assignments including, but not limited to, clinical supervision and instruction, counseling, librarianship, teaching, or scholarly or creative work.

(This award is intended specifically for professional track faculty. However, please keep in mind that professional faculty are also eligible for the other university awards.)

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Associate or Full Teaching, Research, or Clinical Professor, or Associate or Senior Librarian.

Each recipient of this award will receive a cash award of $6,000.

Abraham O. Smoot Citizenship Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award is presented to professorial or professional faculty members who have demonstrated sustained service and personal sacrifice to the BYU community. Many faculty members have established fine reputations as teachers, scholars, or other service professionals but have also been called upon to interrupt their regular academic pursuits to chair university committees, take temporary administrative positions or in other ways spend years performing a variety of essential but unsung services for the university. Some—primarily faculty members who have given service in long-term administrative assignments they never sought—fulfilled these assignments with distinction and willingly returned to the ranks of the faculty when their administrative appointments were over.

Recipients of this award should be outstanding faculty members who have made a truly distinctive and significant service contribution to the university. They must have CFS and at least 15 years of service as a faculty member at BYU to be eligible. The recipient of this award will receive a cash award of $6,000.

Wesley P. Lloyd Award for Distinction in Graduate Education


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award is given to an exemplary member of the graduate faculty who has a history of distinguished teaching and instruction in their discipline at the graduate level, significant research and/or creative work, superior mentoring and supervising of graduate students, and exemplary service to the university, specifically in the creation, implementation, and/or supervision of graduate programs.

To be eligible for this award, a faculty member must have CFS at BYU and hold the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

After initial review by the AAVP–FD, nominations will be forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies, who will review all nominations and select and rank the top 3 nominees. Graduate Studies will submit names and rankings for the top 3 nominees to the AAVP–FD by no later than April 5 for review by the University Faculty Awards Committee.

The recipient of this award will receive a cash award of $6,000.

The professional faculty ranks of Associate Teaching Professor, Associate Research Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, and Associate Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Associate Professor. The professional faculty ranks of Teaching Professor, Research Professor, Clinical Professor, and Senior Librarian correspond to the professorial faculty rank of Professor.

Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Award


Awarded by Phi Kappa Phi and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

The Phi Kappa Phi award recognizes contributions to student mentoring and service to the community outside BYU. Recipients of this award should demonstrate outstanding teaching and citizenship, exemplifying the honor society’s motto: “Let the love of learning rule humanity." They should be role models of inspiring learning.

To be eligible for this award, candidates must be full-time faculty—professional or professorial—with CFS and at least 5 years of experience at BYU.

After initial review by the AAVP–FD, nominations will be forwarded to the Phi Kappa Phi Executive Board, who will evaluate all nominations and select and rank the top 3 nominees. The Phi Kappa Phi Executive Board will submit these names and rankings to the AAVP–FD by no later than April 5 for review by the University Faculty Awards Committee.

The recipient of this award delivers a campus address and will receive a cash award of $3,000.

Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award


Awarded by the university and recognized at the Annual University Conference.

This award recognizes the contributions of adjunct faculty who have demonstrated excellence in teaching. It intends to acknowledge the important role that adjunct faculty play in the life of the university and in its ability to achieve the Aims of a BYU Education in the lives of students.

To be eligible for this award, an adjunct faculty member must have taught at BYU over a period of at least 5 years.

Each recipient of this award will receive a cash award of $3,000.

Alcuin Fellowships


Awarded by Undergraduate Education and recognized at annual college meeting.

For award description and nomination instructions, see https://honors.byu.edu/alcuin-award.