Faculty Excellence Award Categories and Criteria
This document is designed to assist you in preparing your Faculty Excellence Award Application. If you are submitting an application, you will submit your vita and fill out the attached form that directs you to list and describe your performance in each of the areas listed below. The tenure-track faculty on the Department of Sociology’s Faculty Advisory Committee will assign points. The number or range of points for each activity is listed below.
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Evaluation of Scholarship
Though scholarship may take various forms, all work must go through a substantive review process. The FAC will verify this process. Where author ranking is nonrandom, sole-authored pieces indicate greater independence and contribution than co-authored work. Points awarded reflect such ranking.
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Publications and Scholarly Creative Activity
1. Journal Articles. The FAC will evaluate the quality of the journal by taking into account its reputation, acceptance/rejection rates, 5 year average of impact scores, availability/size of audience or subscription base, reputation of editors/editorial board, and reputation of authors publishing in the journal. Journals with impact scores in the top third of journals in the field of sociology or criminology/criminal justice will be considered Tier I. For sub-fields the candidate will present the 5 year average impact scores for the comparable journals and the top third of those journals will be considered Tier I. (Five year impact scores can be obtained by going to the Journal Citation Reports link at the KSU Library Database. The url is: http://admin-apps.webofknowledge.com/JCR/JCR?PointOfEntry=Home&SID=1B4cq9Rxq6h8VAZP7Sq
Tier I. Articles in top peer-reviewed journals
Points: First/Sole Author: 50; Multiple Authors: 40-20Tier II. Articles in second tier peer-reviewed Journals
Points: First/Sole Author: 40; Multiple Authors: 30-15
2. Book Chapters. The FAC will evaluate the quality of the chapter. In order to evaluate the quality of the chapter the applicant should provide as much detail as possible including information about the reputation and prestige of the press, editors, selection process, critical reception of the book, etc.
Points: First/Sole Author: 40-10; Multiple Authors: 20-53. Other publications (commissioned reports, encyclopedia entries, etc.)
Points: First/Sole Author10-5; Multiple Authors: 5-2
4. Books. Books will be evaluated on the following criteria: whether books are peer-reviewed by substantive experts, whether the press is a university press publishing for an academic audience, the general reputation of the publisher, the qualifications of the editor, and the reputation of authors publishing with the press. Generally, books will receive different valuations based on their substantive purpose (ranked below):
a. Original manuscripts
Tier I: Tier I university/non-university press
Points: First/Sole Author: 200; Multiple Authors: 160-80
Tier II: Non-Tier I university/non-university press
Points: First/Sole Author: 160; Multiple Authors: 120-60
b. Edited collections
Points: First/Sole Editor: 75; Multiple Editors: 50-25
c. Textbooks .
Points: First/Sole Author: 50; Multiple Authors: 25
d. New textbook editions
Points: First/Sole Author: 15; Multiple Authors: 105. Scholarly creative work
Scholarly creative work
a. Films [assessment: external reviews, festival placement, reputable cable dissemination (i.e., PBS, History Channel, etc.). Points will be allocated for films shown for the first time in the merit period.
Points: First/Sole: 100-25; Multiple: 75-15 (Points assigned based on quality of the outlet) -
Grants and Contracts
Merit is determined by faculty role, level of funding, and grant time period. The maximum amount of points for proposals resubmitted or not awarded is 30.
1. External Grant Activity (Sole or First Author/Multiple Author)
a. Federal, National and International Foundation proposals
Federal and foundation proposal over $150k, funded
Points: First/Sole: 200; Multiple: 160-80
Federal and Foundation proposals over $150k, not funded
Points: First/Sole: 25; Multiple: 20
Federal and foundation proposal $50k – 149K, funded
Points: First/Sole: 160; Multiple: 120-60
Federal and foundation proposal $50k – 149k, not funded
Points: First/Sole: 20; Multiple: 15
Federal and foundation proposal under $50k, funded
Points: First/Sole: 60; Multiple: 40-20
Federal and foundation proposal under $50k, not funded
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5
Federal and foundation proposal, resubmitted and not funded
Points: First/Sole: 10 Multiple: 5
Federal Continuation (fee-producing extension)
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5
b. State proposals
State proposal funded
Points: First/Sole: 80; Multiple: 60-30
State proposal, not funded
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5
State continuation (fee-producing extension)
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5
Other sponsors (local, regional, agency, corporate), funded
Points: First/Sole: 20; Multiple: 10
Other sponsors (local, regional, agency, corporate), not funded
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5
2. Intramural Grant Activity
a. University or college proposals
Over $10k, funded
Points: First/Sole: 20; Multiple: 15
Under $10k, funded
Points: First/Sole: 20; Multiple: 15
Research and Creativity Award, funded
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5
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Graduate Research Training
Faculty may request research merit when their graduate students are successful in highly valued research activities. Generally, training merit is allotted only in the following instances but faculty may request consideration when other significant student research achievement occurs. These points are awarded in addition to those claimed in sections A and B.
a. External dissertation grant (i.e., NSF Dissertation Improvement Grant, NIH Pre-doctoral National Research Award, NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship, Social Science Research Council etc.)
Points: First/Sole: 60; Multiple: 40-20
b. National dissertation/thesis award (i.e., ASA’s Dissertation Award, etc.)
Points: First/Sole: 15; Multiple: 10 points
c. Intramural dissertation/thesis grant (i.e., University Fellowship, etc.)
Points: First/Sole: 10; Multiple: 5 points –Co-authored research publication (with student as first or second author) these are additional to points given for the publication itself.
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Presentations
Conference presentations are a useful indicator of sustained intellectual involvement and should reflect the life of a research project from initial stages to publication. The maximum number of points awarded for presentation activity is 20.
1. Academic Conference Presentations. Please include professional organization and faculty role.
a. Conference plenary speaker
Points: 10 – recognizes “major” contribution
b. Invited Panel (i.e., Author meets critics, Special topics panel)
Points: Presenter: 7; Author: 3 – recognizes “significant” contribution
c. Presentation – Panel/Regular Session
Points: Presenter 5; Author: 2
d. Presentation -Roundtable
Points: Presenter: 3: Author: 1– recognizes scholarly participation
2. Academic, Community and Organization Presentations.
a. Plenary speaker
Points: 7
b. Invited talks
Points: 3 points
b. Colloquium or brown bag
Points: 1 point
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Research Acknowledgements and Awards
In addition to acknowledging the excellent scholarship of our faculty, awards bring prestige to the department and university. As such, they are highly valued items.
a. International or National Association Research Award
(E.g. ASA W.E.B. Distinguished Scholarship Award, ASC Thorsten Sellin & Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck Award, ASC Michael J. Hindelang Award )
Points: 200
b. International or National Association Disciplinary Research Career Award
(E.g. ASA Social Psychology Section Cooley-Mead Award, ASC Division on Women and Crime Distinguished Scholar Award, ASC Division of International Criminology Freda Adler Distinguished Scholar Award): Points: 100
c. International or National Association Disciplinary Research Award
(E.g. ASA Emotion’s Distinguished Book Award)
Points: 50
b. Regional Research Awards (i.e., NCSA’s Distinguished Book Award)
Points: 25
c. University Research Award
Points: 15
d. College Research Award
Points: 10
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Evaluation of Teaching
The following criteria will be used to grant merit for teaching: course evaluations, teaching awards, research training and education of graduate students and undergraduates, and pedagogical innovation.
A. Course Evaluations
Meritorious teaching will be awarded on the basis of SSIs.
1. SSIs: To be eligible for merit in teaching, a faculty member must be at or above the mean for the sum of items 7-16 of SSIs (averaged across all courses taught by eligible faculty during merit period). If threshold is met, merit points will be awarded based on the following performance tiers. No merit points for teaching will be awarded to faculty who do not perform above the 50th percentile.Tier I:Outstanding
Tier II:Above Average
Tier III: Average
Points: Tier 1 = 120; Tier 2 = 80; Tier 3 = 50.
B. Teaching Awards
Merit will be granted to faculty who earned teaching awards during the merit period. Examples of teaching awards include (but are not limited to): Distinguished Teaching Award, University Teaching Council Award, Arts and Sciences Teaching Award, Department Teaching Award (such as Outstanding Mentorship to Graduate Students) and Professional Teaching Awards (conferred by ASA or SWS, for example). Points will be awarded on the basis of the prestige and competitiveness of the award.
a. National Professional Teaching Award (e.g. ASA Distinguished Contributions in Teaching Award, ASA Carla B. Howery Award, ASA Hans O. Mauksch Award, ASC Lifetime Teaching Award):
Points: 200
b. Kent State University Distinguished Teaching Award
Points: 100
c. Distinguished Teaching Award Finalist or other university or college teaching award
Points: 50
d. College of Arts and Sciences and all other teaching awards:
e. Points: 50-10 – Dependent on the selectivity of the award and level
C. Mentoring of Graduate Students and Undergraduates
Graduate Students
Merit will be awarded to faculty who demonstrate excellence in the mentoring and training of graduate students. Points will be awarded to faculty who: aid in thesis and dissertation completion, and support the professional socialization of graduate students at meetings and conferences. Please note that no points will be assigned for writing letters of recommendation.
a. Thesis and Dissertation Completion: Faculty will be awarded merit points for serving on a thesis or dissertation committee, as either chair or committee member. Merit points are awarded only after the student completes the thesis or dissertation (assuming this falls within the merit period). No points will be awarded to faculty serving on “in-progress” theses or dissertations.
Points:
a. Dissertations: Chair = 60; Co-Chairs = 30 each; Members = 5; Graduate Rep. = 2
b. Masters: Chair = 20; Co-Chairs = 10 each; Members = 3
c. Honors Thesis: Chair = 8; Member = 3
b. Faculty will receive merit for supporting the professional socialization of graduate students at meetings or conferences. Meritorious activities include (but are not limited to): presenting with graduate students at conferences or organizing panels or sessions at meetings with graduate students mentoring students on the job market and successful placement of a graduate student.
Points: 2 points for each activity (these points are in addition to points that are granted for actual presentation of papers, etc.). Maximum number of points for this activity any Academic Year is 10 points.
Undergraduate Students
Merit will be awarded to faculty who demonstrate excellence in the mentoring of undergraduates outside of the classroom. Examples include: working with a McNair Scholar, or co-presenting papers at regional or national conferences (NCSA, for example). Please note that no points will be awarded for writing letters of recommendation.
Points: 2 points for each activity (these points are in addition to points that are granted for actual presentation of papers, etc. Maximum number of points for this activity any Academic Year is 10 points.
D. Pedagogical Innovation
Merit will be awarded to faculty who can demonstrate development and implementation of teaching innovations in the classroom. Meritorious activities include (but are not limited to): experiential/ service learning, “flipping” courses, or new use of course technology (e.g. clickers). Major revisions of courses previously taught will be considered for merit, but faculty must demonstrate that the changes constitute more than a simple change in textbook or course design.
Points: up to 10 points for each development. Awards committee will evaluate the magnitude of the innovation. Maximum number points for this activity for any Academic Year is 30.
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Evaluation of University Service/Engagement
Criteria for assessing points include time commitment, caliber of service, prominence of actions, value to the department and formal recognition/acknowledgement for service work.
A. Service to Department
This includes membership on departmental committees and advising of student organizations. Accomplishments beyond the normal expectations for administrative assignments also can be included.
For all service activities list your particular role, responsibilities, and actions taken. Document the time involved; include frequency and length of meetings as well as additional work conducted (such as reports drafted or other work conducted outside of meetings); include the average hours invested per month or semester.
Points: The Awards committee will assign points based on the magnitude of the activity on a 10-40 point scale for each activity. Maximum number of points in the category for an Academic Year is 200.
B. Service to College and University
This includes membership on university committees, task forces and governance structures, advising of student organizations outside of the department, and moderating outside dissertations.
For all service activities list your particular role, responsibilities, and actions taken. Document the time involved; include frequency and length of meetings as well as additional work conducted (such as reports drafted or other work conducted outside of meetings); include the average hours invested per month or semester.
Points: The Awards committee will assign points based on the magnitude of the activity on a 5-25 point scale for each activity. Maximum number of points in the category for an Academic Year is 100.
C. Service to Discipline
a. Leaderships Positions – Limited to Elected Top Positions in International, National or Regional Professional Associations (e.g., President, Chair of the Organization) or Appointment as a Journal Editor or other elected positions within such organizations
Points: Top positions in International or National: 50-75; Regional: 25-40. Other elected positions: National: 25-40; Regional 10-25. Maximum number of points in the category for an Academic Year is 100.
b. General Service Positions - This includes work on scholarly journals or publishing boards, scholarly organizations or associations, Funding agencies, government and non-profit agencies, and other related entities. For all service activities list your particular role, responsibilities, and actions taken. Document the time involved; include frequency and length of meetings as well as additional work conducted (such as increased responsibilities connected to being an editor or consultant; include the average hours invested per month or semester; list the reputation/stature of journal, association or organization.
Points: The Awards committee will assign points based on the magnitude of the activity on a 5-25 point scale for each activity. Maximum number of points in the category for an Academic Year is 200.
D. Public Sociology
Public sociology includes writing op-ed pieces, media interviews connected to scholarly work, serving on community boards in a role that emphasizes profession and/or scholarship, as well as unpaid consultations and expert witness testimony, speeches, training, program development, and advocacy work. Document the time involved, your role, as well as media market rating or other measure of stature/prominence where appropriate.
Public sociology also can involve community-engaged scholarship that in which the faculty member engages in a reciprocal partnership with the community that integrates teaching, research, and service in a relationship that produces meaningful community-engaged scholarship. This form of public sociology prioritizes deliberative practices such as forums and town meetings to enhance scholarship and address public problems, often includes members of the public as participants in the development of academic knowledge, and can involve extended community partnerships and the development of public information networks/databases. Document the time involved and your role in this work, as well as its significance to the community.
Points: The Awards committee will assign points based on the magnitude of the activity on a 1-25 point scale for each activity. Maximum number of points in the category for an Academic Year is 100.
E. Service Awards
a. International and National Recognition for Service = 100 points
b. Regional Recognition for Service = 50 points
c. University or College Recognition for Service = 25
d. Community Recognition for Service = 25
e. Department Recognition for Service = 50
F. Other Service
This category is for service activity that does not fall into the above categories. If you are requesting merit in the category, please describe the service activity in detail. Document the time involved and your role in this work, as well as its significance of the service to your position as a sociologist or member of the Kent State University community.
Points: The Awards committee will assign points based on the magnitude of the activity on a 1-25 point scale for each activity. Maximum number of points in the category for an Academic Year is 50.