Faculty awards

Faculty Recognitions

Faculty honors and awards foster a culture of excellence by highlighting the remarkable work being done within our institution and enhancing our collective reputation. The University of Arkansas supports the recognition of our talented faculty both externally, through prestigious awards, and internally. We strongly encourage our faculty and academic units to actively pursue our institutional awards, as well as national and international honors.



Departmental Awards

This distinction is  awarded to the department or academic unit on campus that best displays excellence in teaching. The award is co-sponsored by the  Office of the Chancellor, the Office of the Provost and the Teaching Academy. Learn more.

This distinction is awarded to the department or academic unit on campus that best displays excellence in onboarding and mentoring of early-career and mid-career faculty. The award is co-sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Office for Faculty Affairs. View more information on the award and how to submit a nomination.


Individual Faculty Awards and Recognitions

This award gives faculty the opportunity to nominate and recognize outstanding faculty mentors throughout campus. Nominate a faculty mentor today.

The Faculty Applause and the Career Advocate Awards are co-sponsored by the Associated Student Government, Office of Career Connections, and the Office for Faculty Affairs. These awards give students the opportunity to recognize professors who have made a lasting impact on them and their careers during their time at the U of A.

The SEC Faculty Achievement Award is given to faculty with outstanding records in research and scholarship at each of the Southeastern Conference's member universities. Read about the U of A's 2024 SEC Faculty Achievement Award recipient Dr. Mary Lacity.

The Imhoff Award was created by a gift from the John and Lois Imhoff Trust to the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy. The award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated consistent and committed excellence in teaching, instruction and mentoring. Learn more.

This award is  given by the Teaching and Faculty Support Center and recognizes faculty members who have excelled in using technology to enhace their teaching.  View more information.

The Teaching Faculty and Support Center gives this award a faculty member who provided substantial service to teaching. Learn more.


Arkansas Alumni Association Awards

The Arkansas Alumni Association recognizes the acheivements of faculty in research, teaching and service with the following awards: Distinguished Achievement in the Field of Research, Distinguished Acheivement Rising Teaching Award, and Distiguished Acheivement in Professional Service. View more information on these awards, including past recipients and nomination guidelines.

In 1997, the Charles and Nadine Baum Foundation began supporting  an award to recognize of outstanding teaching. The award is given to a Full, University, or Distinguished Professor. View past recipients and nomination guidelines.


Professional Development Recognitions

Faculty who complete the Bridge Mentoring Program workshops receive a Program Completion Badge signed by the Provost and are recognized at the Provost’s Faculty Recognition Reception in April each year. These faculty are then eligible to complete the BIRDS program. Learn more about the Bridge Program.

Faculty who complete both the Bridge and the Beginning Investigator Research Development Support (BIRDS) program workshops receive a Program Completion Badge signed by the Provost and the Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the Provost’s Faculty Recognition Reception held the second week in April.  Read more about the Bridge Program and BIRDS.

Faculty who complete Mentoring Graduate Students workshop receive a Program Completion Certification signed by the Provost and are recognized at the Provost’s Faculty Recognition Reception in April each year. Learn more about the program.

Faculty are awarded certification in effective college instruction through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and the American Counsel on Education after completing course requirements. ACUE is the only nationally recognized certificate in effective college instruction. The University of Arkansas ACUE Program is led by Deb Korth, Assistant Dean of Student Success in the College of Arts and Sciences. The faculty who complete full certification are recognized at the Provost’s Faculty Recognition Reception in April each year.