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The Friend of the Faculty Award, presented by the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, will recognize persons and/or associations from outside the university community who have been instrumental in furthering the aims of the Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Campus. The award is intended to honour a long-term relationship with and support for the Faculty and Campus.

The type of support for the Faculty and Campus that we would consider in candidates for this award could include a broad range of activities, such as:

·         Ongoing support for students through work-terms, externships or practicums.

·         Contribution of time on an unpaid basis to Faculty functions involving students or to campus committees over a long period of time. For example, one suggested recipient has hosted international students repeatedly and refused reimbursement; another served on a committee for several years and has been instrumental in making some off-campus student activities a success.

·         Long-term support for Faculty research or program initiatives through contributions of time, expertise, or access to resources.

·         Long-term support in promoting the Faculty in industry or other areas.

·         Ongoing support that facilitates Faculty and campus operations or provides connections to the local, regional, or global community.

Criteria:

The criteria for Friend of the Faculty award are listed below. It is mandatory that at least one guideline is applicable in each case and ideal that several would apply. Potential candidates should not be employed by the university during the time frame being considered. There will be a limit of one presentation per year. The award will not be made if there are no suitable nominees.

The nominee should:

·         be outside the university community — not an employee or consultant;

·         be unpaid or if paid, receive a stipend rather than a salary;

·         have been actively  committed  over a period of six or eight years;

·         have made obvious contributions to the objectives of the Faculty of Agriculture and former NSAC;

·         not be eligible for other types of recognition (e.g., associate, honorary doctorate);

·         not be proposed solely because of monetary donations by the candidate.

Nominators:

Members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (staff, faculty, students, and alumni) may nominate or support nominations.

Process:

1. Nomination forms are available from the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) Chair (Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration).

2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and at least two other members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (faculty, staff, students or alumni) who support the nomination. These letters of support should outline how the nominee has supported and contributed to the Faculty of Agriculture. Nominations are submitted to Dr. Keltie Jones, Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, PO Box 550 Truro B2N 5E3, or keltie.jones@dal.ca.

3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is March 15.

4. The ACC will review the applications and determine which candidate to recommend for the award.

5. The ACC will recommend to the Dean the name of the successful nominee. The Dean will inform the successful candidate and will prepare the citation for the award recipient.

6. The award will normally be presented at a specially designated institutional function at the end of the Winter semester. (Timelines will be adjusted accordingly each year of the award.)

EARLY CAREER RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Terms of Reference

(Granted in Odd-Numbered Years)

The Early Career Research Excellence Award is intended to recognize and encourage excellence in research within the Faculty of Agriculture.  The award will be given to a faculty member who has developed an outstanding research program during the first five years of their career as a faculty member.

The Early Career Research Excellence Award will be made in the spring of every odd-numbered year, if a suitable candidate is nominated. The contributions of the award recipient will be celebrated at a campus event.

Criteria for the award:

Consideration will be given to originality, independence of thought, overall quality, and impact of the nominee’s research program.

Eligibility:

Individual faculty members in the Faculty of Agriculture who are conducting research and who are in the first five years of their career as a faculty member are eligible. An individual will not be eligible to receive the award more than once.  

Nominators:

Members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (staff, faculty, and students), researchers outside of the Faculty, and professional associations may nominate or support nominations. Self-sponsored nominations are permitted.  

Process:

1. Nomination forms are available from the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) Chair (Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration).

2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and at least two other members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (faculty, staff, or students) or research partners who support the nomination. These letters of support should outline the types and impact of research initiatives carried out by the nominee and must be signed. Nominations are submitted to Dr. Keltie Jones, Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, PO Box 550 Truro B2N 5E3, or keltie.jones@dal.ca.

3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is February 15.

Following the nomination deadline, the Assistant Dean will contact nominees and ask if they wish their name to stand. Nominees will then be asked to provide a copy of their curriculum vitae specifically outlining their contributions to research at the Faculty of Agriculture (with or without cover letter) along with up to three letters of support. Nominees will have at least two weeks to prepare and submit their supporting documentation to the Assistant Dean.

NOTE: All nomination papers, letters of support, and curriculum vitae will remain confidential.

4. The ACC will review the applications, in consultation with the Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies, and determine which candidate to recommend for the award.

5. The ACC will recommend to the Dean the name of the successful nominee. The Dean will inform the successful candidate and will prepare the citation for the award recipient.

6. The award will normally be presented at a specially designated institutional function at the end of the Winter semester. (Timelines will be adjusted accordingly each year of the award.)

 Terms of Reference

(Granted in Odd-Numbered Years)

The Faculty of Agriculture Teaching Excellence Award serves to recognize and celebrate a faculty member’s contributions to teaching at the Faculty of Agriculture over more than five years.

The Faculty of Agriculture has a long history of placing a strong emphasis on excellent teaching.  Many students and alumni speak with fondness about instructors of the past and present. One stimulus for a caring and competent atmosphere is the genuine enthusiasm which exists for topics being taught, and a strong desire to pass this interest on to others. This award is an important opportunity for members of the Faculty of Agriculture community to publicly support and recognize our excellent teachers.  It is a way for both students and colleagues to honour a representative few of the many who have been an inspiration and a help. We hope that you will consider nominating a deserving candidate.

The Teaching Excellence Award will be made in the spring of every odd-numbered year if a suitable candidate is nominated. The contributions of the award recipient will be celebrated at a campus event.

Criteria for the award:

Activities that may be recognized by this award can include (but are not limited to):

• classroom and laboratory instruction
• development of innovative teaching methods
• production of instructional materials
• supervision of students in research
• contributions to student development outside the classroom
• curriculum development
• professional development

Eligibility:

Individual members of the Faculty (both professors and instructors) are eligible. An individual will not be eligible to receive a Teaching Excellence Award in two successive awarding cycles.  

An individual who has previously received a Teaching Excellence Award will be eligible to compete based on achievements made since the previous award. The Academic Coordination Committee will be responsible for i) ensuring that this is clearly communicated to nominees and ii) using the record of the previous competition to ensure that new achievements are the basis for any subsequent award.

Nominators:

Members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (staff, faculty, students, and alumni) may nominate or support nominations. Self-sponsored nominations are permitted.  

Process:

1. Nomination forms are available from the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) Chair (Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration).

2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and at least two other members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (faculty, staff, students or alumni) who support the nomination. These letters of support should outline how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in teaching and must be signed. Nominations are submitted to Dr. Keltie Jones, Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, PO Box 550 Truro B2N 5E3, or keltie.jones@dal.ca.

3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is February 15^th.

Following the nomination deadline, the Assistant Dean will contact nominees, and ask if they wish their name to stand. Nominees will then be asked to provide the following documents to support the nomination:

·         A copy of the nominee’s teaching dossier or relevant CV (max. 8 pages)

·         A statement describing the nominee’s contribution to teaching at the Faculty of Agriculture (max. 1 page)

·         A statement of the nominee’s teaching philosophy (max. 1 page) and

·         Any other supporting documentation

Nominees will have at least two weeks to prepare and submit their supporting documentation to the Assistant Dean.

NOTE: All nomination papers, letters of support, and curriculum vitae will remain confidential.

4. The ACC will review the applications and determine which candidate to recommend for the award.

5. The ACC will recommend to the Dean the name of the successful nominee. The Dean will inform the successful candidate and will prepare the citation for the award recipient.

6. The award will normally be presented at a specially designated institutional function at the end of the Winter semester. (Timelines will be adjusted accordingly each year of the award.)

 Terms of Reference

(Granted in Odd-Numbered Years)

The award for Achievement in Internationalization serves to recognize and celebrate the achievements of a member of staff or faculty who has contributed to one or more of the numerous aspects of internationalization at the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture. Internationalization includes but is not limited to: International development cooperation and projects; international research collaboration; international students on campus; domestic student mobility abroad; internationalization of curriculum; and knowledge exports (providing education abroad).

The award for Achievement in Internationalization will be made in the spring of every odd-numbered year if a suitable candidate is nominated. The contributions of the award recipient will be celebrated at a campus event.

Criteria for the award:

These include but are not limited to involvement in:

·         international development projects

·         international development research

·         scientific collaborations internationally

·         establishment of academic networks and articulations with international partners

·         internationalization of the Faculty’s curriculum

·         involvement with international students

·         encouraging domestic students to develop cross-cultural skills

·         mentoring colleagues or students in above internationalization activities

·         campus and public engagement

Consideration will be given to the breadth of involvement of the nominee in internationalization, the level of innovation, the length of time and the impact of these activities.

Eligibility:

Individual members of the Faculty, sessional lecturers, teaching staff, or support staff are eligible. Groups may also be nominated.  An individual (or group) will not be eligible to receive the award in two successive awarding cycles.  

An individual who has previously received the Achievement in Internationalization Award will be eligible to compete based on achievements made since the previous award. The Academic Coordination Committee will be responsible for i) ensuring that this is clearly communicated to nominees and ii) using the record of the previous competition to ensure that new achievements are the basis for any subsequent award.

Nominators:

Members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (staff, faculty, and students), alumni and international partners may nominate or support nominations. Self-sponsored nominations are permitted.  

Process:

1. Nomination forms are available from the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) Chair (Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration).

2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and at least two other members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (faculty, staff, or students) or international partners who support the nomination. These letters of support should outline the types and impact of internationalization initiatives carried out by the nominee and must be signed. Nominations are submitted to Dr. Keltie Jones, Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, PO Box 550 Truro B2N 5E3, or keltie.jones@dal.ca.

3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is February 15^th.

Following the nomination deadline, the Assistant Dean will contact nominees, and ask if they wish their name to stand. Nominees will then be asked to provide a copy of their curriculum vitae specifically outlining their contributions to internationalization at the Faculty of Agriculture (with or without cover letter). Nominees will have at least two weeks to prepare and submit their supporting documentation to the Assistant Dean.

NOTE: All nomination papers, letters of support, and curriculum vitae will remain confidential.

4. The ACC will review the applications, in consultation with the Assistant Dean, International, and determine which candidate to recommend for the award.

5. The ACC will recommend to the Dean the name of the successful nominee. The Dean will inform the successful candidate and will prepare the citation for the award recipient.

6. The award will normally be presented at a specially designated institutional function at the end of the Winter semester. (Timelines will be adjusted accordingly each year of the award.)

 Terms of Reference

(Granted in Odd-Numbered Years)

The Outstanding Graduate Supervision Award, presented by the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, will recognize faculty members who provide exceptional support, supervision, and advising for graduate students. Excellence in graduate supervision is recognized as the successful mentorship of graduate students through an enriching, supportive and productive learning environment.

The Outstanding Graduate Supervision Award will be made in the spring of every odd-numbered year if a suitable candidate is nominated. The contributions of the award recipient will be celebrated at a campus event.

Criteria for the Award:

Nominations should include evidence of qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as an outstanding graduate supervisor. Evaluation criteria may include:

·         Encouraging students’ development as scholars through the stimulation and development of both key (inter)disciplinary research skills as well as general graduate professional skills – integrity and ethical understanding, creative and critical thought, teaching and communication skills, and leadership and management skills.

·         Mentoring students to become independent scholars in their field and ensuring that students receive support and guidance throughout their program

·         Acting as a role model in the discipline and sharing experiences that will inform students' graduate experience and future careers

·         Providing on-going constructive feedback on thesis progress to students and facilitating both the timely completion of students' programs and high completion rates for students

·         Demonstrating excellence in career development support for graduate students, both within and beyond the academy as appropriate to the discipline. This may include support for graduate students in thesis writing, grant writing, presenting at conferences, publishing, and teaching development, as well as raising awareness of career opportunities and supporting skill development for positions beyond the university.

Eligibility:

Any faculty member who is currently or has recently served as a graduate student supervisor is eligible to be nominated for this award. The award is typically given to an individual who has demonstrated excellence over a number of years.

Nominators:

Members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (staff, faculty, students, and alumni) may nominate or support nominations.

Process:

1. Nomination forms are available from the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) Chair (Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration).

2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and at least two other members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (faculty, staff, students or alumni) who support the nomination. These letters of support should outline how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in graduate supervision. Nominations are submitted to Dr. Keltie Jones, Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, PO Box 550 Truro B2N 5E3, or keltie.jones@dal.ca.

3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is March 15.

4. The ACC will review the applications and determine which candidate to recommend for the award.

5. The ACC will recommend to the Dean the name of the successful nominee. The Dean will inform the successful candidate and will prepare the citation for the award recipient.

6. The award will normally be presented at a specially designated institutional function at the end of the Winter semester. (Timelines will be adjusted accordingly each year of the award.)

 Terms of Reference

The Staff Award for Excellence in Service, presented by the Dalhousie Faculty of Agriculture, will recognize staff members who have made an exceptional contribution to supporting the Faculty of Agriculture. The Faculty recognizes that there are many individuals who contribute to creating a supportive and welcoming campus that provides excellence in student learning and research. The purpose of this award is to:

·         Recognize the value and impact of staff contributions to our campus community

·         Acknowledge publicly individuals whose work has contributed to the Faculty’s success

·         Recognize the efforts of those who enhance our community on a daily basis through excellence in service

Criteria for the Award:

Nominations should include evidence of qualities and practices that distinguish the nominee as providing excellent service to the campus community over time. Excellence in service could include the following:

·         Consistently and substantially exceeding the expectations of the position, performing at a level above and beyond normal job requirements and expectations

·         Making important and significant contributions in their area

·         Contributing and demonstrating commitment to the Faculty’s mission and strategic priorities

·         Consistently and substantially demonstrating an ability and willingness to work positively, respectfully, and effectively with others

·         Significantly increasing student satisfaction in their area

·         Demonstrating ability and willingness to manage changes in work priorities, procedures, and organization

·         Demonstrating exceptional ability to foster collaboration, communication, and cooperation among colleagues and members of the campus community

·         Significantly improving a service or system, or significantly increasing the efficiency of an operation or department/unit

Eligibility:

Any staff member who works on the Agricultural Campus is eligible to be nominated for this award. Faculty members (professors and instructors) are not eligible. The award is typically given to an individual who has demonstrated excellence over a number of years.

Nominators:

Members of the Faculty of Agriculture community (staff, faculty, students, and alumni) may nominate. All members of the Agricultural Campus community may contribute letters of support. The nomination package should typically include support from the nominee’s supervisor.

Process:

1. Nomination forms are available from the Academic Coordination Committee (ACC) Chair (Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration).

2. Nomination forms should be accompanied by supporting letters from the nominator and at least two other members of the Agricultural Campus community (faculty, staff, students or alumni) who support the nomination. These letters of support should outline how the nominee has supported and contributed to the Faculty of Agriculture. Nominations are submitted to Dr. Keltie Jones, Assistant Dean, Students & Academic Administration, PO Box 550 Truro B2N 5E3, or keltie.jones@dal.ca.

3. The deadline for receipt of complete nominations is March 15.

4. The ACC will review the applications and determine which candidate to recommend for the award.

5. The ACC will recommend to the Dean the name of the successful nominee. The Dean will inform the successful candidate and will prepare the citation for the award recipient.

6. The award will normally be presented at a specially designated institutional function at the end of the Winter semester. (Timelines will be adjusted accordingly each year of the award.)