Excellence in Research – In-Unit

Program Overview

The University Research Council and the Office of the Vice President for Research are proud to offer the In-Unit Excellence in Research Awards. Each college may select one research award recipient.

One Excellence in Research award is available to the combined research faculty in those institutes and centers not directly associated with an academic college.

Each college recipient selected will be considered for one additional University Excellence in Research Award.

Funding

Each college-level recipient shall receive a one-time payment of $2,000.

One university-level recipient will be selected to receive an additional $2,000.

Award amounts are treated as income and are subject to normal withholding tax.

Eligibility

Each candidate:

• Must be a full-time employee with at least three academic years of continuous non-visiting, non-OPS service at UCF immediately prior to the current academic year.
• Must have an assignment of at least 0.10 FTE in research over each of the three immediately preceding academic years and the current academic year at UCF.
• Must not have received a college or university Excellence in Research award in the past three years.
  • In considering previous winners of the Excellence in Research Award, only materials developed since the last award will be considered in the evaluation for the current year’s award.
• Members of the University Research Council who are involved in the selection process are not eligible to apply for the university award, but may be selected for the college award.

Criteria

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

1. Cumulative value and impact of research efforts at UCF within the discipline and to society;
2. Recognition of research impact by the individual’s peers in the same or in related disciplines;
3. Publication/dissemination and presentation of research results.

See Article 23.6 (c) in the current collective bargaining agreement for additional information.

Application: Steps, Timeline, and Materials

Applications are submitted through Faculty Insight. Please contact your dean’s office for more information.

Step 1: Intent to Apply (9/14/26 – 10/16/26)

• Submit the INTENT TO APPLY FORM: Excellence Awards 2026-27 by 10/16/26.
  • If you intend to apply for multiple Excellence Awards submit the form once for each award.

Step 2: Candidate Packet Build (10/5/26 – 11/9/26)

• Build and submit the application package in Faculty Insight. Submission Deadline 11/9/26
• Application Materials
  • Supporting Materials (max. three examples- previous three years)
    • May provide three examples of work. The examples should be selected to provide evidence of quality as opposed to quantity.
  • CV
  • Text Boxes
    • Primary Area of Research (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer)
    • Value and Impact of Research Efforts at UCF (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer – previous three years)
      • Provide a concise description of the value and impact of your research efforts at while at UCF within the discipline and to society, discussing, for example, new discoveries, major contributions, creativeness, originality, significant breakthroughs, etc. with a focus on the previous three years.
    • Research/Creative Activity Outlets (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer – previous three years)
      • Briefly describe how the research dissemination exceeds the norm in one’s  field.
    • Research/Creative Recognition (text field, max. 3000 characters – approximately 428-750 words or fewer – previous three years)
      • Briefly note major awards or other evidence of recognition, including major research funding.

Step 3: College Committee Review (11/10/26 – 1/11/27)

Step 4: College Admin Verification and Notification Letter (1/12/27 – 1/19/27)

Step 5: University Committee Review (1/20/27 – 2/15/27)

Step 6: Administrative Verification (2/16/27 – 2/19/27)

Step 7: Notification (2/26/27)

Evaluation and Award Process

College Evaluation and Award Process

The dean of each college will charge a faculty committee to evaluate all applications and make recommendations for the College Excellence in Research Award. College recipients then compete for the University Excellence in Research Award.

University Evaluation and Award Process

The University Research Council will make recommendations for the University Excellence in Research Award.

Awards are ultimately determined by the Provost or designee.

University Award Evaluation Rubric

All evaluations should be based on applicant accomplishments within the past three years following the Excellence in Research guidelines on the Faculty Excellence website. Applications should provide evidence about average impact and research/creative productivity norms in the discipline/areas, as well as significance of awards.

The university award committee utilizes the following categories and rating scales.

• Impact
  • The impact of research efforts at UCF as defined by tangible outcomes, including but not limited to the following metrics and examples of evidence.
    • citations/metrics, policies, patents, exhibition reach, distribution, news, etc.
  • Ratings: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Emerging
• Value
  • The impact of research efforts while at UCF within the discipline and to society, discussing, for example, new discoveries, major contributions, creativeness, originality, significant breakthroughs, etc.
    • Qualitative consideration of human factors, current societal importance, etc.
  • Ratings: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Emerging
• Recognition in field
  • Awards and/or other evidence of recognition, including major research funding.
    • e.g. awards – internal/external, disciplinary rankings, editorships, keynotes, grant funding, community engagement
  • Ratings: International, National, Regional, Local
• Research/creative activity outlets
  • Dissemination that exceeds the norm in one’s field.
    • e.g. publications, presentations, exhibits, plays, performances, screenings, etc.
  • Ratings: Very High, High, Satisfactory, Emerging

• Applicants should provide clear and transparent information about grant funded monies, including identifying their credit/shared credit.
• Examples shared in this rubric are not comprehensive and applicants should articulate outcomes that are relevant to their research and discipline.