Awards

The College of Fine Arts offers several faculty and staff awards for excellence.  These faculty awards include: the Charles and Irene Putnam Award for Excellence in Teaching, the James Anthony Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching, The Roy A. & Stardust K. Johnson Faculty Mentoring Award, and the CFA Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award.

Faculty Awards

The Charles and Irene Putnam Award – The Charles and Irene Putnam award is considered the College's most prestigious recognition of excellence in teaching, as demonstrated by outstanding achievement in teaching during the eligible review period.  Nominations are accepted from the Directors of the various Schools and must be submitted to the Dean’s office by March 1.  An Ad Hoc committee, composed of the five previous Putnam winners, reviews the dossiers, make the selection, and forwards the recommendation to the Dean.

James Anthony Award – The James R. Anthony Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching is awarded to a member of the College faculty who has consistently demonstrated a sustained level of outstanding achievement in teaching.  This award is for the more senior faculty who should be recognized for the longevity of “excellence” and for sustaining their reputations for quality teaching over an extensive period of time. Anthony nominees (one per department/school) come forward as detailed letters of recommendation from the director/head and must be submitted to the Dean’s office by March 1.  The College Advisory Committee selects the winner of the James Anthony Award.

The Roy A. & Stardust K. Johnson Faculty Mentoring Award – This award is given in the College of Fine Arts each year in recognition of outstanding faculty-to-faculty and/or faculty-to-GTA mentoring. Any faculty member and/or GTA in the respective unit may nominate a faculty candidate directly to the unit Director or Department Head. One final nomination for the Roy A & Stardust K. Johnson Faculty Mentoring Award should be made directly to the Deans’ Office by March 1.  The Dean selects the winner from the nominations submitted by the Directors.

CFA Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award – This award goes to a faculty (including adjuncts/academic professionals) or Graduate Teaching Assistant who exhibit true excellence in undergraduate academic advising or mentoring. Nominations by students or faculty and endorsed by the School Director for the Undergraduate Advising/Mentoring Award should be made by March 1. The Dean selects the winner from the nominations submitted by the Directors.

College of Fine Arts Excellence in Fundraising Award – This award is presented to a member of the College’s faculty or administration who makes an important contribution to fundraising endeavors.  Selection is made by the Development Office with approval by the Dean.

The staff awards include: the Shirley J. Heafy Staff Employee of the Year Award, the Staff Service in Excellence Award, the Staff Student Service Award, and the Donna Altenhof Award.  

The Shirley J. Heafy Staff Employee of the Year Award – This award goes to  a Classified Staff employee (technical, office or advising) who has served Fine Arts and his/her department in an exceptional capacity and who fulfills his/her job responsibilities on a daily basis in an exemplary fashion. Nominations must come from faculty, staff or administrators, not students. A committee will select the recipient.

The Staff Excellence In Service Award – This award goes to  a Classified Staff employee (technical, office or advising) who is providing outstanding service through his/her job. Nominations must come from faculty, staff or administrators, not students. A committee will select the recipient.

The Staff Student Service Award – This award goes to a Classified Staff member (technical, office or advising) who is doing an outstanding job serving students. You may nominate as many outstanding staff members as you wish; please use a separate form for each nomination.

The Donna Altenhof Award – This award goes to a Classified Staff member  1) whose service to the respective department, the CFA and the University has demonstrated love of work and loyalty over a period of a minimum of eight uninterrupted years; 2) whose overall performance has been at a level of excellence; 3) whose overall performance has set an example.  The Executive Committee will select the recipient.

Pat Bjorhovde Excellence in Fundraising Award – This award is presented to a member of the College’s staff who makes an important contribution to fundraising endeavors.  The recipient is selected by the Development Office, with approval by the Dean.

Student Awards

The College of Fine Arts recognizes undergraduate and graduate students through several award programs.  These include: the Creative Achievement Award, the CFA Outstanding Graduating Senior, the CFA Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, the, and the Peter Treistman Creative Project Award.

Creative Achievement Award – The Creative Achievement Award goes to students who have shown exceptional creativity and have earned respect as innovative and talented artists as demonstrated by a passion for the arts.  Selections are made by a designated committee within each school.  The names are forwarded to the Dean’s office.

CFA Outstanding Graduating Senior – The CFA Outstanding Graduating Senior award goes to a student who shows exceptional devotion to scholarship, leadership, and citizenship accomplishments.  The citizenship category (as demonstrated by community volunteerism efforts) weighs considerably in the selection of the College winner.  In September, units are asked to put forward the names of the outstanding graduating seniors.  The Dean and the Associate Dean select one senior from the list submitted by each School as the Outstanding Graduating Senior based on the above-mentioned criteria.

CFA Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant – The CFA Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant award goes to a graduate student who has shown exceptional teaching ability as exemplified through a demonstration of at least two semesters of excellent teaching.  One student per School is nominated and their names are sent forward to the Dean’s Office.  The selection is made by the Dean and the Associate Dean.