Purpose
To recognize Mizzou faculty who demonstrate excellence in the mentoring of undergraduate students in research and creative scholarship through two awards annually:
- Arts & Humanities and Social & Behavioral Sciences
- Life Science, Math, and Physical Science (STEM)
Award
Up to two Provost Awards for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship will be given each year. Each award will include a $1,000 prize, less applicable taxes.
Eligibility
Current benefit eligible, full-time faculty who have impacted undergraduate students as researchers in significant ways over time. Full-time faculty who have completed a minimum of three years (as of Sept. 1, 2025) in a tenured, tenure track or non-tenure track position at Mizzou may be nominated.
The award is open to all benefits-eligible faculty members not holding administrative appointments above a department or division chair or head. Nominees for the award may not hold appointments that are more than 50% administrative.
Nomination and Submission
This section outlines who can nominate individuals for this award and what to include in the nomination packet. As you prepare packets, please keep the purpose of the award and any listed criteria in mind. In many cases, there are length guidelines in place for packet components (e.g., include a letter of nomination that is no longer than 2 pages, double-spaced). The overall length of a packet is not of importance to the selection committee – the focus should instead be on providing convincing evidence of the nominee’s accomplishments and contributions. An unsuccessful nomination packet may be updated and resubmitted up to three times within a 5-year period, per award (i.e., Professor Truman the Tiger is not selected in the first year the packet is submitted and can now be resubmitted for the same award two more times within the next 4 years).
Who can Nominate for this Award:
Faculty colleagues, students, departments, schools/colleges, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals.
- Give evidence of UG research students mentoring through peer-reviewed publications with students as co-authors/presenters, grant applications, awards/honors for UG research, art exhibits and/performances, and other public outcomes
- Show mentorship of UG research mentoring of students through:
- Personal commitment to students focusing on UG research
- Individualization of mentoring strategies to fit student needs
- Evidence of providing student support and experience that contributes to excellence in undergraduate research
- Breadth of mentoring activities/philosophy
- Evidence of providing a supportive, encouraging environment, and promoting a positive teaching environment for UG students, which contributes to professional and personal development inside and outside of the classroom
What to Include in the Nomination Packet for this Award:
- Submission Requirement Form
- Nomination letter (limited to 2 double-spaced pages)
- Describe in detail the activities and accomplishments that qualify the candidate for the nomination.
- Be sure to include a statement regarding the impact of the nominee’s activities
- Faculty colleagues, departments, schools/colleges, students, or recognized campus organizations may nominate individuals
- Nominee’s Curriculum Vitae (limited to most recent 5 years)
- Personal statement (limited to 2 pages)
- written by candidate demonstrating professional and personal mentoring experiences, highlighting aspects of mentoring noted above in nomination materials section
- Candidate prepared list of UG Research activities, include list of students who the candidate has mentored over the past three years with a brief summary of outcomes and impact for each. (1 page, table format is preferred)
- Three letters of support, including at least one from candidate’s current supervisor/administrator and one from a current UG student they mentor. Remaining letter can come from a colleague or UG student. (each letter limited to 2 double-spaced pages)
Submission Process and Deadline:
The annual deadline for this award is January 15 (due the following business day when falls on a weekend or holiday).
Nomination packets for this award must be submitted by the Divisional Dean, who may establish an earlier deadline. The Divisional Dean will submit the nomination packet as a single PDF attachment via email to UMCProvostAwards@missouri.edu. The PDF file should be named as follows: YearMentor-Undergrad_LastName (e.g., 2026Mentor-Undergrad_TigerTruman)
Please contact us at UMCProvostAwards@missouri.edu with any questions.
Mizzou faculty receiving one of these awards are encouraged to submit to the Council for Undergraduate Research, a national organization, if they are eligible. CUR awards competitions are divided by disciplines.