Dean’s Awards for Academic Excellence in
Undergraduate Inquiry and Creativity
PURPOSE:
The Dean's Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Inquiry and Creativity honors University of La Verne
students who have excelled in research, scholarship and creative activities that extend beyond
traditional course work in their majors within the College of Arts and Sciences. A total of nine (9) awards
will be made, each consisting of a recognition award a cash prize: one $400 first place award and two
$200 honorable mentions in each academic area (Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences, and Natural
Sciences). All recipients will be invited to the Dean’s Award Celebration later this spring semester.
ELIGIBILITY:
Any undergraduate majoring in a discipline in the College of Arts and Sciences who is graduating during
the 2016-2017 academic year and is in good academic standing is eligible.
CRITERIA FOR NOMINATIONS:
The award honors excellence in faculty-mentored research and creative activities by undergraduate
students that go beyond traditional coursework. At least a portion of the research/creative activity must
have been performed under the supervision of a University of La Verne CAS faculty member.
Nomination letters should include a description of the research and/or creative work in which the
student participates, and should demonstrate the nominee’s qualifications in the following terms:
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academic excellence
initiative
creativity
productivity
dissemination activities
collaborative activities
contributions to the university community
NOMINATION PROCESS:
Nominations must be made by the unit’s (undergraduate department/program) chair or a student’s
faculty mentor. Each unit may nominate only two undergraduate students; nominees must be in their
senior year and planning to graduate during the 2016-2017 academic year.
NOMINATION PACKETS:
Application submission should include:
 Letter of nomination from the unit/department
 A current résumé
 At least two letters of recommendation (one from the faculty mentor)
 Supplemental Information:
o Student's name
o Student's class year
o Student's email
o Name of the faculty mentor(s) who supervise the research/creative activity
o An ABSTRACT of independent research/collaborative research/creative activities
o Nominee's response to the following question: What are your professional aspirations
and how has this research experience assisted you in achieving these goals? (200-300
words)
o List and brief description of past and present experience(s), including the duration and
nature of involvement.
o Papers/posters presented, publications, exhibits, performances
All nomination materials should be an electronic PDF file no later than Friday, April 21, 2017 to Ian Lising
at [email protected]. Department/Program Chairs should assess the nomination packets for their
completeness. Only two nominations will be accepted from a department/program. The CAS Dean’s
Selection Committee will select finalists by April 28. Finalists will be notified and must submit a copy of
their completed project by May 3. First place and honorable mentions will be announced at the awards
ceremony on May 17, 3:30 – 5:00.