Reward and Recognition
Departmental Recognition
Various departments and schools throughout Mason recognize faculty and staff with their own awards. These awards are funded by the department and aligned with the culture and strategic objectives within that unit. If you’d like your department or school’s award listed here, please let us know at awards@gmu.edu.
If your school has a monetary award that needs to be processed and paid through HR, please complete and submit the Departmental Monetary Award form.
About the Award
Sponsored by the Office of Academic Advising: Undergraduate Education: Office of the Provost.
The purpose of this award is to promote and recognize excellence in undergraduate academic advising at George Mason University. Each year, undergraduate students are encouraged to nominate an undergraduate academic advisor who has had a positive impact on them. The award is open to faculty or staff members who have undergraduate academic advising responsibilities.
Evaluation
The recipient of this award will be evaluated according to the following characteristics:
- Demonstrates a caring, helpful attitude toward students.
- Provides accurate information regarding university academic requirements.
- Makes themselves available to students.
- Creates an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students.
- Has knowledge of George Mason University regulations, policies and procedures.
- Makes appropriate referrals when needed.
Nominations
Nominations are accepted every spring semester through online voting on the Undergraduate Education Academic Advising website.
A committee of faculty and staff, including the previous year’s award recipient, reviews the student nominations. Decisions are based on the quality of the nominations. The award, including $1000, will be presented at the annual V. Ann Lewis Academic Advisor of the Year Luncheon typically held in April or May.
About the Award
The Distinguished Library Faculty Award is an annual award presented to a library faculty member in recognition of their sustained and outstanding contribution to the Mason Libraries’ mission and to their field of expertise.
Eligibility
Members of the University Libraries’ administrative and professional faculty who have been at Mason for at least five years as of the beginning of the nomination period.
Criteria
Library faculty are considered by the performance of their professional duties foremost, as well as by their scholarly and service contributions to the academic research library field and to higher education. Award recipients will exemplify this threefold role; have a strong reputation among their colleagues at Mason and outside the institution; and actively foster the teaching, learning, research, and public service mission of the Libraries. Recipients will also embody organizational values such as innovation, collaboration and leadership.
Nomination Procedure
A call for nominations will be made annually by the Office of the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian in mid-January. Complete nomination packets must include a nomination letter, a copy of the nominee’s curriculum vitae, and three letters of reference supporting the nomination. References should represent faculty colleagues from the University Libraries, from Mason’s instructional faculty, and from colleagues in the wider professional community. One reference from each of these categories is ideal, but depending upon the nominee’s role may not be practicable and, in such cases, two nominations from one category are acceptable. Nominated individuals are considered only for one award cycle and nominations must be resubmitted each year. The due date for nominations occurs around the end of February and the committee submits its recommendation to the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian by mid-March.
The Dean of Libraries and University Librarian forms a selection committee each year consisting of five faculty members: two selected from Librarians’ Council by its membership; two selected from the Management Advisory Council by its membership (excluding members of the University Librarian’s Council); and one selected from the University Librarian’s Council by its membership. The Dean of Libraries and University Librarian appoints the Committee Chair.
Award
Recipients receive a $2,000 award and framed certificate.
The award recipient will be recognized publicly as part of Mason’s annual Celebration of Teaching Excellence event.
About the Award
The OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award is an annual award presented to up to seven Mason community members in recognition of being an outstanding mentor to undergraduate students who participate in research and creative activities and for fostering a culture of student scholarship.
Eligibility
All current Mason community members who have served as mentors of undergraduate student scholars are eligible. These may include tenure-line faculty, term faculty, adjunct faculty, post-docs, staff, and/or graduate students. OSCAR values the wealth of diverse mentoring styles at Mason and encourages nominations from all disciplines. At least one award will be reserved for graduate students or post-docs who mentor undergraduate students, and nominee's will be evaluated in the context of their academic program and position. Winners of the OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award from prior years are not eligible to receive the award again.
Criteria
Candidates for the OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award will be evaluated on their positive impact on current and former Mason students and the students’ subsequent success as well as their demonstrated support and engagement of undergraduate scholarship at George Mason University.
Nomination Procedure
A call for nominations will be made annually by the Office of the Provost in late January and will be due by March 1. Nominees will be given approximately two weeks to submit a completed portfolio that includes: a one-page narrative statement describing the nominee's perspective on being a successful mentor and how the nominee fosters a culture of student scholarship at George Mason, two letters of reference (one each from a student mentee and a current GMU colleague), and a 2-3 page document detailing evidence of the nominee’s mentoring experience.
Nominated individuals are considered only for one award cycle and nominations must be resubmitted each year. The due date for nominations occurs around the end of February and the committee submits its recommendation to the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian by mid-March.
Once the portfolio deadline has passed, a committee comprised of faculty from across campus will rate and review the portfolios to determine the final award recipients.
Award
Recipients receive a $3,000 award and engraved crystal award.
The award recipient will be recognized publicly as part of OSCAR’s annual Celebration of Student Scholarship event in early May.
About the Award
The Patriot Academic Advisor Inspiration Award recognizes a member of the George Mason undergraduate academic advising community who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to and understanding of effective diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in their academic advising of students. The recipient of this award will receive $250 and a plaque of recognition which is presented at the Academic Advisor of the Year awards ceremony each spring.
Sponsored by the Office of Academic Advising (Undergraduate Education, Office of the Provost).
Eligibility
Nominees for this award should meet the following requirements:
- Demonstrates an exceptional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in their academic advising practice.
- Must be an undergraduate academic advisor.
- Must have held the role of academic advisor at Mason for at least 1 year.
Nomination Procedure
The Office of Academic Advising will email all advisors when the nomination period is open and include details on how to nominate candidates. Nominations may be submitted by Mason faculty and staff. A committee convened by the Office of Academic Advising will then review the nominations and select the winner. The winner will be included in the Academic Advisor of the Year ceremony in the spring semester. For more information, please email advisor@gmu.edu.
About the Award
The Unsung Hero Academic Advisor Award recognizes a member of the George Mason academic advising community who demonstrates strong advocacy for students within their academic unit. The individual is committed to a “student-first” perspective in their academic advising practice by going above and beyond to advocate for students, especially students in a particular population. The recipient of this award receives a $250 monetary prize and a plaque of recognition which is presented at the Academic Advisor of the Year awards ceremony each spring.
Sponsored by the Office of Academic Advising (Undergraduate Education, Office of the Provost).
Eligibility
Nominees for this award should meet the following requirements:
- Demonstrates strong commitment to a “student-first” academic advising philosophy by going above and beyond to advocate for students, especially students in a particular population.
- Must be an undergraduate academic advisor.
- Must have held the role of academic advisor at Mason for at least 1 year.
Nomination Procedure
The Office of Academic Advising will email all advisors when the nomination period is open and include details on how to nominate candidates. Nominations may be submitted by Mason faculty and staff. A committee convened by the Office of Academic Advising will then review the nominations and select the winner. The winner will be included in the Academic Advisor of the Year ceremony in the spring semester. For more information, please email advisor@gmu.edu.