Academic Affairs News
2026 CUSA Faculty Award
- Tuesday, January 13th, 2026
Dear WKU Faculty,
The Conference USA Presidents and Chancellors believe in the importance of recognizing, honoring, and advancing exceptional achievements of institutional faculty members at the conference level. The Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award honors an institutional professor from each CUSA school who demonstrates a record of outstanding teaching, research, service, and/or scholarly activity within their academic discipline. More information on the award and the nomination process can be found below.
Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award
The Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award honors an institutional professor from each CUSA school who demonstrates a record of outstanding teaching, research, service, and/or scholarly activity within their academic discipline. The annual award recognizes one winner from each institution who will receive an honorarium ($5,000) and becomes the university’s nominee for Conference USA Professor of the Year.
SELECTION CRITERIA
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Standing as a full-time member of the faculty.
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Demonstrate an outstanding record of teaching, research, service, and/or scholarship.
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Attained regional, national, or international recognition for contributions or achievements within the discipline; and
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cannot be a former recipient of the C-USA Faculty Achievement Award.
NOMINATION MATERIAL
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Letter of recommendation from departmental representative (e.g., department chair). The letter can provide broad perspectives on the faculty member’s impact at the university but should highlight the basis for endorsement. The letter shall be no longer than two single spaced pages and addressed to the CUSA Faculty Achievement Awards Committee.
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A curriculum vitae highlighting scholarly activities limited to five pages.
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An impact statement from the faculty member no longer than three single-spaced pages. The statement can address the following (in the order indicated) but is intentionally broad to ensure all faculty, regardless of discipline, have a framework to articulate their merits for selection.
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Area(s) of expertise.
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Significance of work in the field.
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Teaching.
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Mentoring students or other faculty.
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Service and engagement.
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Professional recognition, awards, and honors.
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Other (e.g., community engagement, relevant personal accomplishments); and
TIMELINE
Completed nomination materials need to be submitted to the provost office by February 9th, 2026. A committee composed of one faculty from each college, the faculty athletic representative, and the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee President (or designee) will determine the Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award winner for Western Kentucky University by February 25th, 2026. Also, by March 1st , 2026 the committee will send the winners’ nomination material to the C-USA office so that the individual is eligible for the C-USA Professor of the Year Award. Award winners will be officially Award winners will be officially acknowledged and announced by the conference office in the Fall, highlighted on established digital and social media platforms and recognized at a conference event.
Sincerely,
Robert "Bud" Fischer
Provost & VP Academic Affairs
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