Academic Affairs

University Professor and Merit Awards Guidelines

Every spring from 1972 to 1995, the Lamar University Board of Regents honored a senior faculty member (or members) with the title of Regents' Professor. During the same ceremony, several junior faculty members were recognized by the Board with Regents' Merit Awards. With the transition to The Texas State University System, the Regents' Professor/Merit Award program ended. In its place, a new recognition program was created. The new program-- modeled after the Regents' program--identifies and honors University Professors and University Merit Award recipients. These awards are Lamar University recognitions rather than Board awards; however, they carry the same prestige and stature. The schedule, criteria, and procedures used in selecting Regents' award recipients will be followed in the selection of University Professor/Merit Award recipients.

ONLY A LETTER FROM THE DEAN AND A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR MAY ACCOMPANY THE 6 PAGE RESUME CONSIDERED BY THE UNIVERSITY SELECTION COMMITTEE.

 

2026 Awards Schedule

College Deans Schedule
by January 20-24 Election of members to serve on College Selection Committee. See paragraph College Selection Committees below for guidelines on selecting your committee.
by February 2 Dean convenes first meeting of the College Selection Committee. See CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES below for selection process of University Professor and Merit Candidates.
by February 14 College Selection Committee forwards the names of selected candidates to the Dean. The Dean invites the candidates to submit a resume (using attached Resume format below pg. 4) for review and consideration. All resumes are due to the Dean by February 28.
by March 4 Dean forwards candidates' resumes along with the Dean's recommendations to the Senior Associate Provost’s Office, who distributes the materials to members of the University Selection Committee. Deans: forward the candidates' resumes. *A LETTER FROM THE DEAN AND A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR MAY ACCOMPANY THE 6 PAGE RESUME TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE UNIVERSITY SELECTION COMMITTEE.


Sr. Associate Provost Schedule
by March 28 After thorough discussion and deliberation of all nominees by the University Selection Committee, the Chair of the University committee reports the Committee’s recommendations to the Provost.
by March 31 The Provost forwards his recommendations to the President of the University who names the University Professor and University Merit Award recipients.

CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES

  • University Professor Candidates
    1. University Professor candidates shall be associate or full professors whose current teaching load is at least nine hours (or the equivalent in contact hours) and who have completed at least three academic years at Lamar University. Administrators at the rank of department chair and above are ineligible for this award.
    2. University Professor candidates shall be selected by a College Selection Committee formed in each college. Committee members shall be full-time faculty chosen by the faculty in an election conducted by the Dean. The Dean shall serve as an ex-officio member of the committee.
    3. All eligible faculty, nominated by self or others, shall submit brief resumes, and be considered by the College Selection Committee; however, the name of only one candidate shall be forwarded to the Dean. The Dean shall invite the candidate to submit a formal resume (see attached form) for consideration by the Dean and the University Selection Committee. The most important criterion for selection shall be classroom performance and interaction with students.
    4. The Dean should consult with the College Selection Committee, the candidate's Department Chair, and representative students who have had courses with the nominee. Because the University Selection Committee shall place great weight on the evaluations of the faculty members nominated, the evaluations should be conscientiously and cooperatively solicited by the Dean and the selection committee. The recommendations to the Dean should include these evaluations.
  • University Merit Award Candidates
    1. University Merit Award candidates shall be instructors or assistant professors whose current teaching load is at least nine hours (or the equivalent in contact hours) and who have completed at least one academic year at Lamar University. Administrators at the rank of department chair and above are ineligible for this award.
    2. University Merit Award candidates shall submit brief resumes and be selected by a College Selection Committee formed in each college. Committee members shall be full-time faculty chosen by the faculty in an election conducted by the Dean. The Dean shall serve as an ex- officio member of the committee.
    3. All eligible faculty, nominated by self or others, shall submit brief resumes and be considered by the College Selection Committee; however, the names of no more than two candidates shall be forwarded to the Dean. The Dean shall invite the candidates to submit a formal resume (see attached form) for consideration by the Dean and the University Selection Committee. The most important criterion for selection shall be classroom performance and interaction with students.
    4. The Dean should consult with the College Selection Committee, the candidate's Department Chair, and representative students who have had courses with the candidate. Because the University Selection Committee shall place great weight on the evaluations of the faculty members nominated, the evaluations should be conscientiously and cooperatively solicited by the Dean and the selection committee. The recommendations to the Dean should include these evaluations.
    5. University Merit Awards may be presented a second time to an individual, but not in successive years.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

  • College Selection Committees
    Members of the College Selection Committees shall be chosen by faculty in elections conducted by the Dean of the College. The Dean shall determine the number of members to be elected and how the election will be conducted. The Dean shall serve as an ex-officio member of the committee. Committee members shall elect their own chair and follow the criteria outlined above. No candidate for an award may serve on the selection committee. The first meeting of the committee will be called by the Dean no later than February 7.
  • University Selection Committee
    Members of the University Selection Committee shall be members of the University Faculty Awards Committee. No candidate for an award may serve on the committee. Members of the committee shall elect their own chair and follow the criteria outlined above. The first meeting of the committee will be called by the Senior Associate Provost. In making its recommendations to the Provost, the University Selection Committee will present three names, unranked, in the category of University Professor and six names, unranked, in the category of University Merit Awards. Resumes of all nominees shall be forwarded to the Senior Associate Provost.
  • Provost Recommendations and Presidential Selections
    The Provost shall present to the President all materials pertaining to nominees whose names have been forwarded by the University Selection Committee. In addition, the Provost shall forward his recommendations to the President. From the nominees, and in due consideration of all forwarded recommendations and materials, the President shall select the recipients.

NOMINEE RESUME

  • Suggested Format - 6 Page Maximum

    Name:

    Rank:

    Department:

    College:

    Years of teaching at college level:

    Years of teaching at Lamar:

    Courses taught in last two years (Merit Award only):

    Courses taught while at Lamar University:

    • Undergraduate:
    • Graduate:


    Performance in classroom and interaction with students outside classroom

    1. Special education projects undertaken:
    2. Methods and techniques used in teaching and student evaluations:
    3. Research in teaching field related to classroom teaching:
    4. Teaching awards and/or grants received:
    5. Sponsorship of student organizations:


    Professional development

    1. Membership, attendance, leadership roles in professional organizations:
    2. Research projects, on-going and/or completed:
    3. Professional awards and/or grants:
    4. Publications:


    Service to the University

    1. Membership and leadership roles in committees, councils, etc.:
    2. Professional service to the community:

     

    Submit resume--Maximum of 6 pages

    *ONLY A LETTER FROM THE DEAN AND A LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT CHAIR MAY ACCOMPANY THE 6 PAGE RESUME CONSIDERED BY THE UNIVERSITY SELECTION COMMITTEE.