Faculty & Staff Awards

The College of Business acknowledges and rewards outstanding scholarship, teaching, mentorship, and service among its faculty and staff. The College presents these awards each academic year at its annual Pillars of Success Awards Program. Pillars of Success Awardees will be recognized on the University’s website and in the College of Business magazine.

Application materials will be accepted through Friday, April 19, 2024, at 5:00pm. Awardees will be notified by Monday, April 29, 2024, and are strongly encouraged to attend the Pillars of Success Awards Ceremony on May 16, 2024, to be recognized for their achievements.

Apply for the Faculty/Staff Award

Categories

1) Pillars of Success Faculty Scholarship Award ($500)

The Faculty Scholarship Award recognizes a full-time College of Business faculty member for outstanding achievement in scholarship, research, creative activity, and other scholarly/professional contributions. The faculty’s contribution is documented through publications such as research papers in refereed journals or books/book chapters. Other contributions include invited papers, scholarly presentations and exhibitions, external funding for the support of scholarly/creative pursuits, inventions and patents, and published/copyrighted software. Scholarship activities, with accompanying documentation, must satisfy one or more of the following criteria.

  • Scholarly, high-quality outcome that is relevant to the mission of the department, COB and/or University.
  • Originality and relevance to the profession/field.
  • Scholarly outcomes that are identifiable and measurable, as well as accessible to stakeholders.
  • Successful acquisition of external funding for scholarly work.
  • Any other accomplishments that support the nomination.

2) Pillars of Success Faculty Teaching Award ($500)

The Faculty Teaching Award recognizes a full-time faculty member in the College of Business for outstanding achievement and demonstrated excellence in the area of teaching face-to-face and/or online. The award recipient demonstrates innovative, current, and adaptive teaching techniques and methodologies that enhance teaching effectiveness. Face-to-face or online teaching activities, with accompanying documentation, must satisfy one or more of the following criteria.

  • Outstanding student evaluations (must be included in submitted materials).
  • Enhanced classroom instruction through use of technology and software beyond the basic technology for remote instruction.
  • Enhanced classroom instruction through incorporating current research and/or practical topics in teaching.
  • Innovative approaches to stimulate critical and analytical thinking.
  • Innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
  • Relevant course and/or program development.
  • Recipient of a teaching grant.
  • Distinguished external honors or awards for teaching.
  • Any other achievements that support the nomination.

3) Pillars of Success Faculty Service Award ($500)

The Faculty Service Award recognizes a full-time or adjunct faculty member for outstanding service to the nominee's department, the College of Business, the University through faculty governance, profession, community, service to students (other than mentorship), and sponsored University events. Service activities, with accompanying documentation, must satisfy one or more of the following criteria.

  • Serving departments, COB, University and USM (University System of Maryland) committees.
  • Serving on external boards of directors and other governance bodies.
  • Leading on/off campus BSU (Bowie State University) activities.
  • Offering public presentations or lectures (excluding research presentations).
  • Providing other services to the community such as consulting for not-for-profit organizations (pro bono).
  • Serving as an officer/committee member of a professional or scholarly organization.
  • Collaborating with colleagues and community stakeholders for the long-term benefit of COB, the University, profession, and community-at-large.
  • Any other activities that support the nomination.

4) Pillars of Success Faculty Mentorship Award ($500)

The Faculty Mentorship Award recognizes a full-time or adjunct member in the College of Business for excellence in mentorship of students. Mentorship activities, with accompanying documentation, must satisfy one or more of the following criteria.

  • Mentors engage in regular support of students/colleagues through consistent meetings in which important and pivotal live advice is transmitted.
  • Mentors build trust through relationship-building with students in a judgement-free setting.
  • Mentors share with students their own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support, and role modeling.
  • Mentors help students with exploring careers, setting goals, developing contacts, identifying resources, and helping students reach their academic and professional goals.
  • Significant advisory role in student accomplishments such as SURI and case competitions.

5) Pillars of Success Adjunct Faculty Award ($750)

The Adjunct Faculty Award recognizes an adjunct faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching in the College of Business and has served a minimum of two years at Bowie State University. Activities, with accompanying documentation, must satisfy one or more of the following criteria.

  • Outstanding student evaluations (must be included in submitted materials).
  • Enhanced classroom instruction through use of technology and software beyond the basic technology for remote instruction.
  • Enhanced classroom instruction through incorporating current research and/or practical topics in teaching.
  • Innovative approaches to stimulate critical and analytical thinking.
  • Innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

(Note: Adjunct faculty who have served a minimum of two years at Bowie State University are also eligible for the Pillars of Success Service and Mentorship Awards.)

6) Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award ($1,000)

The Faculty Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes faculty who have served 20 or more years at Bowie State University. The Dean’s office receives employment information from Human Resources and determines members of the faculty who are eligible for this recognition. This award can only be earned once by an individual full-time faculty member.

7) Pillars of Success Staff Award ($750)

The Staff Award will be given to the College of Business staff members whose contributions have been deemed outstanding because of their commitment to the College and its stakeholders.

  • Executes all aspects of their job function with distinction.
  • Provides an elevated level of customer service to students and colleagues.
  • Promotes the mission and vision of the College of Business.
  • Seeks opportunities for continuous improvement through professional development conferences, webinars, and/or other related activities.
  • Maintains high professional standards and a commitment to professionalism which is consistently evident.

Eligibility and Application Process

To be eligible for these awards, applicants must be members of the teaching faculty or full-time staff and satisfy the award criteria. Faculty can apply for more than one award. Any faculty or staff awardee from a previous year must wait at least one year to re-apply for the same award category.

Apply for the Faculty/Staff Award

Qualified faculty and staff can submit supporting material that encompasses the period Fall 2023 to the present. During the application process, applications will be asked to upload one (1) PDF file which should include:

Submission Criteria

Complete the application based on responses to the relevant criteria below:

  1. Short bio
  2. Your professional association/organization affiliation, and position(s)
  3. Example(s) of leadership and recognition/significant impact
  4. Example(s) of mentorship/guidance/advisement of current COB student(s) – for example, Mentor Alliance registration, guest speaker in class or webinar, connecting students to academic and/or professional opportunities, etc.
  5. Example(s) of how you promote the mission of the COB
  6. Example(s) of your impact in any or all these 3 areas - social justice, civic engagement, entrepreneurship – for example, community service, activism, social entrepreneurship, etc.
  7. Any relevant honors and awards received or other achievements
  8. A headshot (optional)

Evaluation Process

The College of Business Dean will form a taskforce with at least one representative from each Department to make final decisions regarding the award applications. All decisions are final. Awardees will be notified by Monday, April 29, 2024, and are strongly encouraged to attend the Pillars of Success Awards Ceremony on May 16, 2024, to be recognized for their achievements.


*In any year, if faculty or staff applicants do not meet the criteria for a particular award, that award will not be given.