Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising – In-Unit

Program Overview

UCF sponsors the In-Unit Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising awards to recognize the outstanding efforts of UCF’s faculty advisors in retaining undergraduate students, improving communication of information to peers and students, and helping undergraduate students realize their potential. One university-level Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising award may be given each academic year. Each academic college may submit materials for up to two candidates for consideration.

Funding

Each of the two recipients of the Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising Awards shall receive a one-time payment of $2,000. Award amounts are treated as income and are subject to normal withholding tax.

Eligibility

• All in-unit employees who currently advise and who have advised undergraduate students over the preceding three academic years are eligible.
• In-unit employees who have received an Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising award in the past three academic years are not eligible to apply for this award.

Criteria

The criteria for evaluating applicants’ files shall include three major categories:

1. Evidence of extra effort to improve advising;
2. Evidence that students have been sensitively and appropriately informed and guided concerning career choices and academic opportunities;
3. Evidence that the nominee serves as a role model in the pursuit of learning.

Application Materials

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF file (no portfolios please) to your college Dean’s Office.

Required

The following sections are required, in the order listed here:

1. Statement of philosophy toward student advising (one paragraph)
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Description of advising activities and responsibilities (a summary of the advising responsibilities that have been assigned to the nominee as part of their teaching and the number of students advised over the previous three years, or since the nominee was appointed to UCF- no longer than two pages)
4. Student, peer, and administrative evaluations of advising activities (if comments are included from teaching evaluations, all comments must be provided along with a typed summary, by year, rather than the actual evaluation sheets)
5. Evidence of leadership in developing new and innovative advising methods.

Optional 

These items may be placed in the application after the required items, at the discretion of the applicant. If an item is included, it should be found in its own section, in the order listed here. However, for these optional materials, no section is needed if an item is not included.

• Documentation of awards, honors, etc., received in recognition of excellence in advising in the previous three years or since the nominee was appointed to UCF
•  Evidence of extra effort to improve advising (may include the development of advising materials, handbooks, check sheets, or student handouts or brochures)
• Evidence of excellence in advising over a sustained period
• Evidence that students* have been well-informed about university resources and procedures, e.g., library, tutoring services, advising, counseling, and study skills centers; departmental and university requirements; drop or add procedures; withdrawals; leaves of absence; transfer credits; incomplete grades; etc.
• Evidence that students* have been sensitively and appropriately informed and guided concerning career choices and academic opportunities
• Evidence that the nominee serves as a role model in the pursuit of learning*
• Recent publications or presentations that relate to college advising methods or tools.

* Supporting materials from students must be limited to students no longer at UCF and must have been written in the previous three years. Letters must not be solicited from current students.

Evaluation and Award Process

The dean of each college will charge a faculty committee to evaluate applications and nominate two candidates for the Excellence in Faculty Academic Advising Award.