Recognition Awards

Graduate School Recognition Awards

The Graduate School coordinates annual recognition awards to celebrate the accomplishments of graduate researchers and faculty mentors.

Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Award

This award acknowledges and honors an individual who has enjoyed outstanding success in mentoring graduate students. Any full-time UNCG faculty member who has successfully mentored a cadre of graduate students at the master’s or doctoral level is eligible for nomination.  Each nominee must have demonstrated continuing success as a mentor over a significant portion of their career.

Award: $1,000 and a plaque will be presented at the Excellence Convocation.

Evaluation Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated based on each of the following criteria:

• Mentoring excellence—a demonstrated record of mentoring excellence as indicated by a clear understanding of and evidence of supporting graduate student/postdoctoral scholar academic, professional and psychosocial needs; evidence of support beyond the classroom, lab or office; and strong testimonials from former graduate students/postdoctoral scholars;
• Fostering of inclusive, collaborative academic environments—a demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion in mentoring as indicated by cultural awareness and sensitivity, recognition and respect for differences in perspective (cultural, racial, socioeconomic, gender, sexual orientation, etc.), and openness and transparency in the mentoring/advising process;
• Commitment to professional development and career advancement—a demonstrated commitment to graduate student and postdoctoral scholar professional development and career advancement as indicated by encouraging pursuit of publication, external grant funding or conference presentation, cultivation of a strong professional portfolio, development of network connections, dissemination of knowledge (knowledge mobilization) outside the academy, etc.

Outstanding Dissertation

The Outstanding Dissertation Award was established to recognize exceptional work by doctoral students and to encourage the highest levels of scholarship, research, and writing. Each academic department offering the doctoral degree may nominate one dissertation for consideration.

Award: $1,500 award and a plaque will be presented at the Honors Convocation in the spring.

Guidelines: The following criteria were developed by a subcommittee of the Graduate Program Directors and will be used in judging dissertations:

• Originality in selection and formulation of the research topic
• Contribution this work makes to its academic discipline
• Clarity of presentation
• Skill and creativity in the use of methodology or research techniques
• Independence of thought demonstrated by the student throughout the dissertation process

Outstanding Thesis / Master’s Production

This award recognizes the significant accomplishments of master’s degree students through their thesis or master’s production. Each academic department offering the master’s degree may nominate one thesis or master’s production for consideration.

Award: $1,000 award and plaque will be presented to the recipient at the Honors Convocation in the spring.

Guidelines: The following criteria were developed by a subcommittee of the Graduate Program Directors and will be used in judging theses and master’s productions:

• Clarity of presentation
• Originality and creativity of the thesis/master’s production and potential for external recognition
• Quality, size, and scope of the thesis/master’s production; level of its challenge and assessment of its quality and execution
• Relationship to professional caliber of work in the field (i.e., publishable work in/for refereed journal or juried exhibits)

George and Beatrice Goldman Fisher Gerontology Dissertation Prize

The University, through the George and Beatrice Goldman Fisher Gerontology Dissertation Prize, has established an annual award of $1000 to the best UNCG dissertation in any discipline which is related to gerontology and best advances improvement in the quality of life of the elderly. Each academic department offering the doctoral degree may nominate dissertations for consideration.

Award: $1000 award and plaque will be presented at the Honors Convocation in the spring.

Guidelines: The following criteria will be used in judging:

• Contribution this work makes to gerontology
• Originality in selection and formulation of research topic
• Skill and creativity in the use of methodology or research techniques

George and Beatrice Goldman Fisher Gerontology Master’s Prize

The University, through the George and Beatrice Goldman Fisher Gerontology Master’s Prize, has established an annual award of $500 to the best UNCG master’s thesis or master’s project in any discipline which is related to gerontology and best advances improvement in the quality of life of the elderly. Each academic department offering the master’s degree may nominate master’s theses or projects for consideration.

Award: $500 award and plaque will be presented at the Honors Convocation in the spring

Guidelines: The following criteria will be used in judging:

• Contribution this work makes to gerontology
• Originality in selection and formulation of research topic
• Skill and creativity in the use of methodology or research techniques

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Associates

This award acknowledges the contributions of graduate students to teaching and instruction at UNCG. This award is significant to student teachers as it is an affirmation of their dedication to education by their specific department. It reminds the campus community that teaching is central to the university’s mission and that inspiring students increases our global reach.

Award: $200 award and recognition at the Honors Convocation in the spring will be given to the Graduate Teaching Associate selected by each College/School.