Past recipients of the University Exemplary Department or Program Award (1994-2011)

The University Exemplary Department or Program Award program recognizes the work of departments and/or programs that maintain exemplary teaching and learning environments for students and faculty. With this award, the university publicly honors the collaborative efforts and successes of a group of dedicated colleagues actively performing work that is essential for sustaining truly excellent academic environment.

The University Exemplary Department or Program Awards are given in recognition that the academic excellence of individuals is achieved within distinctive working and learning environments to which many individuals contribute in essential ways. Awards totaling $40,000 are given annually.

Established in 1994, the awards program is part of the university’s Faculty Rewards Project which seeks to clarify the expectations of faculty, and define appropriate rewards for accomplishments.

Past recipients of the University Exemplary Department or Program Award (and the theme of the award each year) are:

• 2011 Effectively linking assessment with instruction in order to improve student learning: Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering; Department of English, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; and Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• 2010 Develop and sustain innovative and effective approaches that foster international awareness and education: Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and Department of Chemical Engineering and  Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering.
• 2009 Effectively linking research and scholarship with teaching, with particular emphasis on innovative undergraduate programs: Department of Chemistry, College of Science; and the Earth Sustainability project.
• 2008 Working collaboratively across departmental boundaries to fulfill common or complementary goals: Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering; School of Architecture + Design, College of Architecture and Urban Studies; College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences' Undergraduate Research Institute; and a pair of departments working together, the Department of History and the Department of Teaching and Learning (School of Education), College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
• 2007 Developing and sustaining innovative and effective departmental approaches to advising at the graduate and/or undergraduate levels: Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering; Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; and the University Academic Advising Center.
• 2006 Developing and sustaining innovative and effective departmental approaches to introductory course at the graduate or undergraduate levels: Department of Communication, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; and Department of Engineering Education, College of Engineering.
• 2005 Enhancing global diversity by effectively increasing the numbers of culturally different faculty, staff, and students and/or promoting and supporting international and multicultural perspectives to support the missions of the university: Cranwell International Center, Division of Student Affairs; and Department of Human Development, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
• 2004 Effectively linking research and scholarship with teaching, with particular concentration on innovative undergraduate programs: Department of Biological Systems Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Science and the College of Engineering; Department of History, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences; and Department of Theatre Arts, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
• 2003 Working collaboratively across departmental boundaries to fulfill common or complementary goals: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (College of Engineering), Department of Materials Sciences and Engineering (College of Engineering), and Department of Physics (College of Science); Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures (College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences) and the Pamplin College of Business; Graduate and International Programs; Graduate Program in Science and Technology Studies.
• 2002 Maintaining a high quality of advising both at the graduate and undergraduate level: Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences; and Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, College of Engineering.
• 2001 Developing and sustaining innovative and effective departmental approaches to introductory course at the graduate or undergraduate levels: Department of Forestry, College of Natural Resources; Marriage and Family Therapy Program in Northern Virginia; and Residential Leadership Community.
• 2000 Effectively increasing diversity of faculty, staff, and students, and/or enhancing multicultural perspectives in teaching, research, and outreach programs. Dean of Students Office, Division of Student Affairs; Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Program, College of Human Resources and Education; Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering.
• 1999 Effectively linking research with teaching, with particular concentration on innovative undergraduate programs: Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, College of Engineering; Department of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences; and Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences.
• 1998 Working collaboratively across departmental boundaries to fulfill common or complementary goals: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Building Construction, College of Engineering; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering; and Urban Affairs and Planning Program.
• 1997 Maintaining a high quality of advising both at the graduate and undergraduate level: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; and Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, College of Engineering.
• 1996 Developing and sustaining innovative and effective departmental approaches to introductory course at the graduate or undergraduate levels: Department of Engineering Fundamentals, College of Engineering; Department of Geological Sciences; College of Arts and Sciences; and Department of Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences.
• 1995 Managing faculty resources of time and talent effectively and creatively to fulfill stated departmental or program missions: Department of Communications Studies, College of Arts and Sciences; Department of English, College of Arts and Sciences; and Women’s Studies Program.
• 1994 Effectively linking research with teaching, with particular concentration on innovative undergraduate programs: Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering; and Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering.