Research Excellence Award FAQs
1. How many awards can a department give each year?
The number of awards a department or program is entitled to give is based on the average numbers of students completing their graduate degrees for that department or program. The purpose of the awards is to honor up to the top 10% of outstanding grad-student-researchers, as demonstrated in their theses or dissertations. An entitlement is created for each department; for every 10 grad students graduating per year, the department is entitled to one research excellence award per year. If fewer than 10 students graduate per year, then one award may be given every “X” years; e.g. with 5 students graduating, the department is entitled to give an award every 2 years, and so on. A list of current department entitlements is available linked from the research excellence webpage, in the purpose of the award section. And finally, of course, a department is not obliged to give as many, or indeed any, awards for reseach excellence
2. How long does the entitlement last?
It lasts for one year, from the fall semester through the following summer session; a department may make awards in any of these, but the award must be given in the semester in which the student graduates.
3. It’s hard to know if students deserve research awards until they take their final oral exam, and then it’s sometimes past the nomination deadline for that semester. What can be done about this?
Unfortunately it takes several weeks to organize all the pieces of a research excellence award (the congratulatory letter, certificate, notation in commencement program etc). But it’s easier to cancel or postpone an award if a student’s final hard copy and defense of his/her thesis/dissertation is disappointing. It just takes a phone call or email to Felicity Douglas (contact info at end) and the award will be pulled. Awards are also automatically cancelled when students don’t make the deadline for final oral exams or for turning in their completed theses or dissertations. Awards cancelled because of non-graduation can be reinstated in a future semester by the department calling or emailing to request this. And, of course, cancelled awards are not counted in a department’s award entitlement.
4. Supposing our department has 2 equally excellent graduate student researchers, but is only entitled to make one award?
Normally the department needs to choose somehow the best among all of its candidates. But it is possible occasionally to exceed the department entitlement if there is an outstanding student a department particularly wants to honor. In that case, the nomination needs to acknowledge that the department is exceeding the award allocation and justify making this extra award. Departments cannot regularly exceed their quota because the intent of this excellence award is to honor “outstanding”rather than “very good” students.
6. Can a student nominate him or herself?
No, students cannot do their own nominations to the Graduate College. Each department or program selects its best candidates and officially submits those names to the Grad College. Individual departments have their own different methods and procedures for doing this, so if you are a student consult your major professor or the Director of Graduate Education (DOGE) in your program.
7. Can a student receive two research excellence awards,for both a master’s thesis and a PhD dissertation?
Yes it is possible for one student to be nominated for research excellence in both degrees, provided there were 2 separate research projects completed and the department judges the student as excellent in each.
Other questions? Call Felicity Douglas at 294-1958 or email fdouglas@iastate.edu
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