Purpose

The UMass Lowell Award for Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Faculty recognizes the exceptional service of one faculty member who has made significant contributions in mentoring and supporting their fellow faculty members at UMass Lowell. Faculty mentoring is a crucial element in fostering a collaborative and thriving academic environment, enhancing professional development, and promoting career advancement. Through effective mentorship, faculty members help their colleagues navigate challenges, achieve their professional goals, and maximize their impact in teaching, research and service.

Eligibility

  • Full-time faculty member at UMass Lowell and currently in a tenure, teaching, or clinical-track position. Self-nominations are welcome.
  • Previous nominees are eligible, and it is hoped that they will be nominated again.
  • Previous winners are not eligible to be considered for a period of six years.

Criteria for Award

  • Provides mentorship leading to professional development in teaching, research, or service of faculty mentees.
  • Encourages collaborations or creates opportunities that support faculty mentees' career growth.
  • Fosters a trusting relationship, providing empathetic and practical support with faculty mentees.
  • Evidence of long-term mentoring initiatives with leadership in faculty mentoring programs.

Please visit the detailed evaluation rubric on the Faculty Excellence Awards landing page.

Application Process

Any full-time faculty member may nominate a colleague or themselves for this award. The deadline for applications is April 3, 2026. All submissions must be made online through the Faculty Excellence Awards Portal. The submission must include:

  • a short statement (500-1,000 words) describing the applicant's mentoring philosophy when working with faculty mentees, the impact on faculty, and how the applicant meets the award criteria;
  • three letters of support that contain specific examples of applicant's activities that are aligned with the review criteria:
    • a letter from the nominator or, in case of a self-nomination, a letter from a colleague familiar with the nominee's mentoring contributions.
    • two letters from faculty mentees - the letters can be from current mentees(s) or former mentees(s) who have been part of the UMass Lowell community within the past five years.
    • Note: A single individual may write no more than one support letter for each award category.

The Faculty Excellence Committee will meet to review the nominations and make a recommendation to the Provost or designee.

Award Winners

The winner of this award will be announced in April 2026. The winner will be invited to present a lightning talk on faculty mentoring methods for faculty/colleagues at the Fall 2026 Faculty Symposium. The winner will also receive a $1,000 award.

For questions, please email: Faculty_Sucess@uml.edu.

The Faculty Excellence Committee embraces and celebrates in all its forms and encourages individuals from underrepresented populations to apply or to nominate others for these awards.