AGNR Awards Nominations

Includes administrative, technical/paraprofessional, and clerical full-time and part-time exempt and non-exempt staff are eligible. A truly exceptional standard of performance of duties, dedication and contributions of the candidate are important factors. Candidate should demonstrate ability to be innovative within the job and address needs not specifically identified in the job description. Supports the development, completion, or presentation of high-quality research, outreach, and/or educational programs. Candidate should demonstrate contributions in presenting a positive image for the university, special activities such as service to the college or university.

Off-Campus Staff Excellence Award

On-Campus Staff Excellence Award

The Dean's Grantsmanship Award aims to recognize the great effort of the faculty members in successfully securing competitive extramural grants and contracts.

Dean's Grantsmanship Award

Includes Faculty Extension Assistants, Faculty Research Assistants, Associate Agents, Instructors, and Lecturers. Full-time and part-time non-tenure track faculty are eligible for this award. The way in which the candidate supports the development, completion or presentation of high-quality research, outreach and/or educational programs is an essential element. A truly exceptional standard of performance of duties, dedication and contributions. Candidate should demonstrate ability to be innovative within the job and address needs not specifically identified in the job description. Should demonstrate contributions in presenting a positive image for the university, special activities such as service to the college or university.

Off-Campus Professional Track Faculty Excellence Award

On-Campus Professional Track Faculty Excellence Award

Candidates must be full-time tenure track faculty members for a period not to exceed seven years as of June 30 of the award year from date of initial appointment in a regional Research and Education Center or Extension office. Candidates must have clearly established themselves as excellent faculty members with exceptional accomplishments in research and/or Extension education. Nomination statements should focus on creativity and innovations of the candidate and provide evidence of the quality of research productivity, professional service and/or impact of outreach programs, as appropriate for each nominee.

Off-Campus Junior Faculty Award

On-Campus Junior Faculty Award

This award may be given to an individual or to a team. Candidates must be full-time tenured or tenure track faculty members based in an agricultural research and education center, extension office, or academic department. Candidates must have clearly demonstrated excellence and integrated approach to their extension program that includes applied research that addresses issues important to the citizens of Maryland including, but not limited to, economic prosperity, environmental stewardship, and/or quality of life.

Integrated Research & Extension Excellence Award

This award is presented annually to recognize an individual or team, in the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, that has published highly significant scholarly research, enhancing the reputation of the college and university and having a substantial impact on their discipline at the national and international levels. Nominees must be tenured or tenure-track faculty within the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources with a minimum three years of service in the College. The same individual or team may receive the award more than once during their career in the College, but not for the same work.

Faculty Research Award

Nominees for this award must be involved in teaching and advising of undergraduate and/or graduate students. Nomination materials should clearly demonstrate recent and sustained high standards of teaching performance as indicated by formal student and peer evaluations. Materials should include a list of courses taught with enrollment figures for each course, dates taught, and course evaluations. Also, please submit a summary of how course content is kept current and how the nominee incorporates creativity and innovation to advance student learning. Nominees should demonstrate a strong record of service to students through academic and career advising, mentoring, sponsorship of student organizations, graduate committee service, supervising internships and/or placement of graduates.

The Paul R. Poffenberger Excellence in Teaching & Advising Award

This award is given annually to an outstanding Extension field faculty or non-academic departmental faculty (Extension educators and regional and state Extension specialists) to recognize innovative, creative, and superior programming at the city/county/regional/state/national level. There are three prerequisites for this award: (1) the recipient must be a tenured Maryland Cooperative Extension educator, (2) the recipient must be working as a Maryland Extension educator or specialist at the time of the award; and (3) the recipient must be an effective educator or specialist with demonstrated results in innovative program development.

UME Extension Excellence Award

The Cairns award is the premier award to recognize members of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources faculty, including AES and MCE faculty in Entomology and Family Studies, who make outstanding and creative contributions. This award will be available to all AGNR faculty involved in teaching, research, and/or Extension education in academic departments, at research and education centers or in Extension offices. Nominees should be those individuals who are leaders in the initiation and development of creative ideas leading to enrichment of the learning process and/or discovery of new frontiers in agriculture and related fields. Nomination statements should focus on the accomplishments of the candidate and the positive impact of the nominee on agriculture or appropriate related program areas. Nominees should be outstanding contributors to the programs of AGNR and be clearly among the most outstanding faculty in AGNR.

The Dean Gordon Cairns Award for Distinguished Creative Work and Teaching in Agriculture

New in 2021, the DEIR Standard of Excellence Award recognizes outstanding efforts of AGNR faculty and staff to fulfill the initiatives of the College’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect goals.

Download this DEIR Standard of Excellence Description for award criteria and a summary of the nomination process.

Select and download the appropriate nomination form below and email the completed form as an attachment to AGNR-Awards@umd.edu to submit it.

Faculty DEIR Standard of Excellence Award

Staff DEIR Standard of Excellence Award

The AGNR Cornerstone Award recognizes contributions from AGNR faculty, staff, or from external partners in an area defined by one of AGNR's five Strategic Initiatives.

Download this AGNR Cornerstone Awards Description for award criteria and a summary of the nomination process.

Select and download the appropriate nomination form below and email the completed form as an attachment to AGNR-Cornerstone@umd.edu to submit it.